To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in intercepting illegally imported meats in the luggage of travellers entering the UK. [146373]

Customs took over enforcement responsibility for imported products of animal origin (POAO), including meat, on 11 April 2003 and have made good progress in fulfilling their obligations under the Government's Action Plan 2003–04 On Illegal Imports Of Meat, Other Animal Products, Plants, And Plant Products.A letter to stakeholders, prepared by Defra in conjunction with Customs, sets out progress against all aspects of the action Plan. It can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.qov.uk/animalh/illeqaliI have placed a copy in the Library of the House.Information for preceding years was submitted by Defra in its "Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products: April 2002—March 2003", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable the Treasury has set for reviewing the audit requirements for industrial and provident societies once the Department of Trade and Industry has completed its review of company law. [145525]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proposals he has to amend industrial and provident society legislation to make it consistent with existing company law; and if he will make a statement; [145372](2) what steps he has taken to review the law relating to industrial and provident societies; and if he will make a statement; [145495](3) what plans he has to bring forward proposals to update legislation relating to industrial and provident societies; and if he will make a statement. [145496]

The Government are keen to see, where appropriate, a level playing field between industrial and provident societies and companies. We are currently examining our options for taking forward this agenda. However, in order to provide for a strategic, consistent and up-to-date approach between companies and societies, the Government believe that the general modernisation of industrial and provident society legislation in this area should be considered in the light of the DTI's planned major reform of company law, announced in the "Modernising Company Law" White Paper published in July 2002. The timetable for reviewing the audit requirements will be determined by the timetable for the review of company law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in the Leeds, North-West constituency who will benefit from the child trust fund. [146205]

All eligible children born since 1 September 2002 in families awarded child benefit will receive a child trust fund (CTF). Based on take-up of child benefit, it is estimated that virtually all children born will receive a CTF. Projected birth figures by Parliamentary constituency are not available, although figures for actual births and numbers receiving child benefit by parliamentary constituency are available in the House of Commons Library.The CTF is intended to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit. It will ensure that every child, whatever their family background, will have access at the age of 18 when they begin their adult life, to a stock of assets which they can invest in their future.It will also help children and their parents to understand the benefits of saving and investment and how to engage with financial institutions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy that the additional sum for research and development announced in his pre-Budget report will be filtered down to local colleges which have good science study courses; whether he expects Leyton Sixth Form College to gain from the additional funds; and if he will make a statement. [146358]

The additional spending on research and development announced in the pre-Budget report 2003 arose from improvements to the R&D tax credits schemes for both small and large companies.The improvements included a new draft definition of R&D and an extension of qualifying costs. These changes will give companies greater clarity and certainty, as well as broadening the scope of expenses on which the credit can be claimed.The pre-Budget report also set out the main findings of the Lambert Review into the links between universities and businesses in the UK and the significant benefits to be gained from greater collaboration. Key recommendations included a new funding stream for business-relevant research and the encouragement of new forms of networks between business people and academics. The Government will make a full response to the recommendations by summer 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the tax regime for mutual and co-operative businesses. [146497]

The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of tax revenue lost to the UK Exchequer in each of the last five years due to tax policies of the administrations of (a) the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) the Cayman Islands, (d) Bermuda and (e) other Caribbean islands for which the UK Government has a responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [146360]

There is no reliable measure of total tax revenue lost to the UK Exchequer as a result of the tax policies of the administrations of the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. However, in order to minimise tax lost, or at risk, the UK is committed to encouraging the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to match international standards on exchange of information for tax purposes and on fair tax competition and welcomes progress that has been made so far.The Government also remain determined to take necessary steps domestically to protect tax revenues and have, for example, introduced legislation to counter various offshore avoidance schemes, and are funding additional activity by the Inland Revenue aimed at tackling the exploitation of offshore trusts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many postal addresses in the UK have been sent (a) a copy and (b) multiple copies of the Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet, The Strength to Take the Long-Term Decisions: Seizing the Opportunities of the Global Recovery, of December; and what the total cost of postage was to his Department. [145443]

[holding answer 5 January 2003]: Individual copies of the 2003 Pre-Budget Report leaflet were distributed to around 4,000 addresses. Multiple copies were distributed to around 30,000 addresses. The costs of postage are included in the costs of distribution which I gave in an answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question 145445.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of (a) printing and (b) distributing the Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet, The Strength to Take the Long-Term Decisions; Seizing the Opportunities of the Global Recovery. [145445]

[holding answer 5 January 2004]: The total printing cost for the 2003 Pre-Budget Report leaflets was around £75,000 and the distribution cost was approximately £110,000.All costs have been met from within the Treasury's Departmental Expenditure Limits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for which there are records for (a) the production and (b) the use of red diesel on which duty has not been paid; what the amounts of duty involved were; and what penalties were imposed on those convicted. [145484]

HM Customs and Excise's prosecution figures for Hydrocarbon Oil fraud over the past three years, including the number of convictions and the average sentence, are set out in their Annual Report (HC 52) published in December 2003. This also contains figures for the total value of fraud detected and identified.In respect of prosecution figures for earlier years, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the then Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow Pollok (Mr. Davidson) on 30 January 2001,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from householders who hold shared appreciation mortgages; and what plans he has to assist them. [145408]

I have received a number of representations. I cannot intervene in individual cases nor can I direct firms to take action. But if individuals believe they have been mis-sold a product, they may have recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the figures for the take-up of stakeholder pensions released by the Inland Revenue by (a) earnings, (b) age and (c) gender. [146085]

Estimates of the number of individuals contributing to Stakeholder Pensions in 2001–02, broken down by earnings, age and gender are contained in tables T7.10 and T7.11 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest versions of these are on the Inland Revenue website: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/pensions/03IR710.pdf http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/pensions/03IR711.pdf

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in receipt of one or more tax credits (a) are paying and (b) are not paying income tax. [146741]

The final annual tax credit awards of families, and estimates of their 2003–04 income tax liabilities, will not be available until their awards are finalised on the basis of their actual incomes for 2003–04.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been put in place to reduce tax evasion since 1997; and what estimates have been made of additional sums collected as a result. [146328]

Activities designed to counter tax evasion are a normal and continuing part of the Inland Revenue's business. Important measures introduced since 1997 include the implementation of the—`Grabiner' recommendations; Proceeds of Crime Act; Savings Directive; Money Laundering provisions and Production Powers for use in criminal cases. Additionally, specifically funded compliance and enforcement packages have been put in place to tackle fraud and protect the Exchequer from non-payment of tax and other duties. In the 2003 Budget the Chancellor announced additional funding of £66 million over three years for such a package.Typically, new measures to counter tax evasion are designed to work within the wider compliance regime and in concert with other measures. Consequently, often no meaningful estimates can be made of additional sums collected as a result of particular measures in isolation. Figures of total estimated additional liability flowing from the Inland Revenue's work tackling noncompliance are shown each year in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the UK levies applicable to UK-produced wine. [146472]

UK excise duties applicable to wine are the same irrespective of the country in which the wine is produced. These are applied in bands according to the alcoholic strength of the product as shown in the following tables.Most wine is produced in the 5.5 per cent. to 15 per cent. band.

	Rate per hectolitre (£)
Wine and made-wine
Exceeding 1.2 per cent.—not exceeding 4 per cent. abv.	48.91
Exceeding 4 per cent.—not exceeding 5.5 per cent. abv.	67.25
Exceeding 5.5 per cent.—not exceeding 15 per cent. abv.	158.69
Exceeding 15 per cent.—not exceeding 22 per cent. abv.	211.58
Sparkling wine and made-wine
Exceeding 5.5 per cent.—less than 8.5 per cent. abv.	166.70
8.5 per cent. and above—not exceeding 15 per cent. abv.	220.54

	Rate per litre of pure alcohol (£)
Wine and made-wine
Exceeding 22 per cent. abv.	19.56

The final sale price of wine in the UK also includes VAT at the standard rate of 17.5 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that people in work will be better off than if on benefits; what timetable he has set for increasing the number of people who are better off in work than if on benefits; and if he will make a statement. [146364]

The Government have improved gains to work by reducing the starting and basic rates of Income Tax, and reforming National Insurance Contributions. Recent increases in the National Minimum Wage, which was introduced in April 1999, have also significantly boosted the earnings of low paid workers.Tax credits increase the gains to work for working families on low and moderate incomes. The new tax credits improve gains to work for part-time second earners and have extended financial support to many more working families on low and moderate incomes.The Government's continuing commitment to making work pay is demonstrated by recent measures in the 2003 Budget and pre-Budget report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses there were to the Driving Standards Agency's Consultation on Approved Driving Instructors qualifications; and what proportion of the responses came from (a) qualified driving instructors and (b) organisations representing them. [146454]

The Driving Standards Agency issued nearly 3,000 copies of its consultation paper in April 2003. The Agency received 82 responses including from national and local representative bodies for car driving instructors, organisations providing motorcycle training, representative bodies for the road freight and passenger transport industries, the police and those responsible for the administration of justice, road safety bodies, and individual instructors. Of the 82 responses, nine (11 per cent.) were from individual driving instructors and 11 (13 per cent.) from their representative bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new bridge management system will be operative; and what his latest estimate is of the cost of completing the bridge strengthening programme. [145543]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which airlines were banned from using British airspace between January 2000 and December 2003; between which dates in each case; and for what reasons; [146490](2) which airlines are banned from using British air space; and for what reasons. [146491]

Airline	Dates of permit restriction	Reason for restriction
Aircraft operated by airlines from	On-going	Inadequate safety regulation.
Equatorial Guinea
Aircraft operated by airlines from Gambia	On-going	Inadequate safety regulation.
Aircraft operated by airlines from Liberia	On-going	Inadequate safety regulation.
Aircraft operated by airlines from Tajikistan	On-going	Inadequate safety regulation.
Star Air Ltd. (Sierra Leone)	From October 2003	Adverse ramp inspection findings and concerns about inadequate safety regulation
RAF-AVIA (Latvia)	28 March to 26 July 2003	The airline was using a leased Ukraine registered aircraft but the lease agreement did not properly deal with the issue of operational control or regulatory oversight.
Enimex (Estonia)	25 February to 30 April 2003	The Estonian authorities had identified serious deficiencies with certain aspects of the airline operation but had permitted the airline to continue operating under a temporary Air Operator Certificate (AOC) while those deficiencies were addressed. Permits were refused until the full AOC was restored
Air Bosna (Bosnia)	April 2003	The Bosnian authorities had only issued a temporary AOC as the airline had an number of issues to rectify. Permits were refused until a full AOC was issued.
Inter Trans Air (Bulgaria)	August 2000	Adverse ramp inspection finding on an Antonov 12. Permits refused until corrective action taken.
Air Memphis (Egypt)	April 1999 to May 2002	Adverse ramp inspection findings. There was no response from the Egyptian authorities to the finding, and no further permit applications, until May 2002.
Cameroon Airlines	From January 2001	Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers.
Albanian Airlines	From January 2001	Concerns over security and immigration controls at Tirana.
Central Air Express (Democratic Republic of the Congo)	From February 2003	Inadequate safety regulation.
Air Universal (Sierra Leone)	From September 2003	Adverse ramp inspection findings and lack of response from Sierra Leone authorities.
Kyrgyzstan Airlines	Summer 2003	Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers.

In addition, we require permit applicants, where appropriate, to confirm that aircraft 2003 are equipped with certain equipment such as ground proximity warning systems and the airborne collision avoidance systems. Permit applications have been turned down in the absence of such confirmation.All applications for a permit are considerd on their merits. The fact that an airline is not listed in the table does not mean that it would necessarily qualify for a permit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department. [145994]

The UK has one of the most rigorous safety regimes in the world and plays a leading role in seeking to raise international safety standards.Any airline from outside the EU or EEA which wishes to pick up or put down passengers or cargo in the UK requires a permit from the Secretary of State. It is a condition of the permit that the airline should be operated in accordance with international safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. If we have evidence that international standards are not being met a permit may be refused or revoked. Permits may also be refused for other reasons, such as non payment of fines for offences under immigration legislation.Since 1 January 2000 a number of airlines have had applications for permits turned down, or would have had an application turned down if one had been received, because of failure to meet ICAO standards or other concerns. These are listed in the table as follows.

Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics web-site at: http://www.civil-service. gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdfAs there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my 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 Transport what representations he has received about the average waiting time for a driving test; and if he will make a statement. [145331]

The average waiting time for a practical car test in November (the last month for which there is full data) was eight to seven weeks, against an annual national target of six weeks.Figures for the rest of this financial year are:

Month	Waiting time (weeks)
April	8.8
May	9.4
June	9.3
July	9.8
August	11
September	10.1
October	9.5

During this period of high demand for practical driving tests the Driving Standards Agency, the executive agency of the Department responsible for conducting driving tests, received some 220 written representations about the waiting time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing compulsory hazard perception tests for existing approved driving instructors. [145335]

The consultation paper issued by the Driving Standards Agency in April 2003 contained a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment of the costs of introducing hazard perception testing into the standards supervision arrangements for existing approved driving instructors. The letter issued by the Agency in December that announced our decision contained an Assessment which had been amended in the light of consultation.The direct costs to instructors who prepared thoroughly for the new assessment should be minimal. No fee will be charged for the first attempt at the test and training and information support have been supplied free. An instructor will have up to 12 months to take the test at a nationwide network of centres. An instructor who was unsuccessful on the first attempt would be charged £50 for a re-test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the responses to the consultation paper, "Driving Test Fees and Other Matters". [145336]

The Driving Standards Agency published a response to consultation letter on 5 December 2003. This summarised the 82 responses received. Copies of the letter were deposited in the House Libraries.Where those who responded indicated that they had no objection to their response being made publicly available, the Agency will on request supply copies of individual responses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the closure of the access road to Gateway Services on the M1, from Ellesmere Avenue, Mill Hill. [146616]

The access road is not a public highway. It is temporarily closed during the installation of automatic barriers designed to restrict use to authorised users only. There has been excessive use of the access road by motorists taking a short cut through the service area to join the M1 and there have also been repeated incidents of fly-tipping.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the date of the inquiry into the proposed increase in the Mersey Tunnel's toll will be announced. [146744]

The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive (Merseytravel) has withdrawn its application for an Order to revise the Mersey Tunnels' tolls as it has been able to secure alternative funding to cover the initial cost of constructing emergency escape refuges/passageways in the Queensway (Liverpool/Birkenhead) Tunnel. As a consequence, an inquiry is no longer required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce the number and seriousness of incidents of motor vehicles striking railway bridges. [146220]

Many measures have been taken to prevent overheight vehicles striking bridges, including improved signing and conspicuity of low bridges, and regulations requiring that the vehicle's height be displayed in the cab. Despite these measures bridges continue to be struck. Such strikes can cause disruption to road and rail traffic, even for minor incidents, and a serious incident could cause injury and damage. The Department let a research contract last year to investigate the causes and possible prevention of bridge strikes, with the aim of identifying which available measures are likely to be worth pursuing so that drivers follow a route that is appropriate for their vehicle. My officials will be discussing the research findings and possible future steps with a wide range of stakeholders who meet with the Department in the Bridge Strike Prevention Group.Measures to prevent vehicles from striking bridge parapets on roads over railways are being pursued as part of the general programme to manage the accidental incursion of the railway by road vehicles, following the accident at Great Heck, near Selby in February 2001 and the publication in February 2003 of the Department's report, "Managing the Accidental Obstruction of the Railway by Road Vehicles ".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to consult Ofcom in connection with the impact on the telecommunications industry of the Traffic Management Bill; [146329](2) when the next meeting will be held of his Department's working group of representatives of highways authorities and utility companies; and whether Ofcom will be represented at the meeting. [146330]

During 2003, my Department hosted a series of meetings of the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) Legislation Working Group, which was set up to consider possible measures for inclusion in the Traffic Management Bill. Those represented on the group included highway authorities and utilities, as well as the various utility regulators such as Oftel. The next meeting of the Group is on 15 January 2004 and those attending will include the new regulator body Ofcom. In drawing up the Bill we have looked closely at its possible impact upon the telecommunications industry and shall continue to do so as the Bill progresses through Parliament and as we draw up the secondary legislation which will be needed to implement some of the Bill's provisions. We will be involving Ofcom closely in this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by his Department of terrorist threats to civil aircraft in flight over Saudi Arabia. [145654]

The Government keep the threat to civil aviation in all countries, including Saudi Arabia, under continuous review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the level of congestion on (a) interurban roads and (b) urban roads is against which he intends to achieve a reduction; and by how much he expects this to change when the measures in the Traffic Management Bill are implemented; [145531](2) what definition of congestion was used in the regulatory impact assessment for the Traffic Management Bill. [145548]

[holding answer 5 January 2004]: For the detailed references to congestion in the RIA, calculations represent estimated time lost in seconds per kilometre travelled for different vehicle types compared with speeds obtained in periods of light traffic flow. In urban areas light flow speeds are usually speeds achieved at night time and would incorporate the effects of traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and other unavoidable constraints on vehicle movement.In 2000, the average time lost per vehicle kilometres as a result of congestion was 24.8 seconds on roads in large urban areas and 3.2 seconds on strategic inter-urban roads.The Highways Agency estimates that the introduction of Regional Control Centres and Traffic Officers will lead to a reduction in congestion on motorways of up to 5 per cent. We expect that measures outside of the scope of the Bill, such as additional capacity at key points on the strategic road network, many of which will be implemented alongside, will also lead to reductions in congestion on trunk roads.The new duties and powers in the Bill provide an incentive and a means for local authorities to reduce congestion on their roads, and for utilities to work with less disruption, especially in urban areas. The level of reduction will depend on the local circumstances and the performance of individual utilities and authorities, including the use that the latter make of the new powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers of arrest will be available to traffic officers appointed under the Traffic Management Bill. [145538]

Traffic officers will not have powers of arrest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he has spent on installing traffic calming measures in each of the last three years. [145826]

[holding answer 7 January 2004]: Installing traffic calming on local roads is the responsibility of the local highway authorities which fund them from block allocations provided by the Department in support of their Local Transport Plans or equivalents. The Department has, however, given local authorities grants totalling £4.6 million in 2002–03 and £5.5 million in 2003–04 for specific local transport schemes that include traffic calming measures.Measures that may be described as traffic calming would generally form part of the Highways Agency's programme of small safety schemes on trunk roads. The Highways Agency's opening budgets for safety schemes over the last three years, as published in the Business Plan, are as follows: 2001–02—£47 million, 2002–03—£45 million and 2003–04—£41 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next intends to visit Scotland to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the fishing industry in Scotland. [146387]

I have no plans for further meetings at present, but would expect to discuss the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report on the future of the fishing industry when it is published soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry to discuss the fishing industry in Scotland. [146385]

I met representatives of the Scottish industry at the Council of Ministers meeting last month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the establishment of the nuclear decommissioning agency. [146389]

There are regular meetings and discussions between Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and in the Department of Trade and Industry. These cover all issues of current mutual interest, including the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government will implement the Stockholm convention on international trade in toxic waste; and what implications this has for such trade between industrialised nations. [146390]

The Stockholm Convention controls the production and use of 12 chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Controls on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes are covered by a separate international agreement, the Basel Convention.Current Community legislation covers most Party obligations under the Stockholm Convention, and the European Commission has proposed a Regulation on persistent organic pollutants to give effect to those provisions which are not sufficiently covered. The UK will ratify the Convention during 2004 when this proposed Regulation is in place.The Stockholm Convention prevents the import or export of persistent organic pollutants unless for environmentally sound disposal or for a few exceptional uses. Most industrialised nations have already banned the use of the 12 chemicals listed so the impact on trade between them will be negligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on introducing changes to the law concerning cruelty to animals. [146356]

The department is currently undertaking a review of legislation relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals with a view to introducing an Animal Welfare Bill. Any proposed changes to existing legislation will be based on science and good practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in her Department. [145993]

Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service website at: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdfThe data shows that one per cent. of senior civil servants in my Department have a disability. As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my 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 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to purchase Geodesign Pallet Barriers to prevent flood damage in (a) the Vale of York and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness. [143879]

We have no plans to purchase such barriers. Purchase would be a matter for the operating authorities to decide.The Environment Agency are currently trialling pallet barriers and other temporary, moveable defences on the River Severn. Once these trails are completed the Agency's assessment will be made available to other operating authorities. The usefulness of such moveable defences will be a matter for the Agency and local authorities to determine in light of local conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which agency is responsible for ground water flooding. [146225]

No agency has direct responsibility for groundwater flooding and any remedial action would generally fall to the relevant landowner. The Environment Agency has powers to undertake works in relation to flooding from main rivers and the sea and also exercises a general supervisory duty over all flood defence matters. For ordinary watercourses these powers rest with local authorities and the internal drainage boards. However, the Environment Agency may, depending on the circumstances, be in a position to offer advice.As part of the Department's on-going work to develop a new Government-wide strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management for England, a project is currently underway to scope the extent of groundwater flooding events and the present administrative arrangements.Further information on the strategy is available via www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account planning authorities are required to take of the risk of ground water flooding; and whether planning permission can be refused in areas where ground water flooding is known to have occurred. [146226]

I have been asked to reply.Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 Development and flood risk advises that "the susceptibility of land to flooding is a material planning consideration". It advises the use of a risk-based approach based on a sequential test that gives priority to development in lower-risk zones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to prevent the importation of plant material that may act as a host to sudden oak death infection; and if she will make a statement. [146456]

All plants entering the UK from third countries must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and are subject to inspection at import. For a wide range of known hosts of the sudden oak death fungus (Phytophthora ramorum is its scientific name), specific measures must be followed before the authorities in the exporting country can issue the certificate. For trade within the EU, specific disease control measures are applied at the place of production to rhododendrons and viburnums, the two types of plant which have been most often found to be infected in Europe. Plant passports are then issued that travel with consignments allowing their free movement between member states.Findings of

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional resources are being made available to the Plant Health Inspectorate in connection with sudden oak death; and if she will make a statement. [146457]

Defra's 75 Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors (PHSI) are already employed for around 20 per cent. of their time on inspection and surveillance duties related to Phytophthora ramorum, which is known in the USA as sudden oak death. However, in response to the increasing number of findings of this pathogen in England and Wales, the plant health service is to employ at least 20 additional staff to cover the increased rate of inspections at production nurseries, wild planting areas and ports of entry. This is part of a package of measures announced on 4 December. Wherever possible, suitably qualified field staff will be transferred from elsewhere in the Department. These will be supplemented by recruitment of a small number of staff with appropriate experience and qualifications (e.g. ex-PHSI staff). Transfer and recruitment will start in January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines apply on the use of (a) road signs and (b) road markings in national parks. [145761]

The national requirements for road signs and road markings are specified by the Department for Transport, principally in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (SI 3113/02).With the agreement of DfT, highways authorities may make limited modifications to meet any special local considerations such as those which might apply within a National Park.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Environment Agency's handling of the ghost ships. [146368]

As the competent authority in England and Wales for the relevant controls, the Agency agreed in July to the import of the ships from the US for dismantling in Hartlepool. It became clear, however, that not all the required permissions for the dismantling facility were in place, and since the arrival of four of the ships in Hartlepool, the Agency has taken steps to prevent any dismantling work on them.

To ask the Minister for Women what recent assessment has been made of the participation of black and minority ethnic women in public life. [146257]

The latest assessment (March 2001) showed minority ethnic women held only 2 per cent. of all national and regional public appointments. The Cabinet Office is developing a Public Bodies and Public Appointments database that will include information on diversity. This will underpin information that is held by individual Departments. To mark Black History Month in October 2003 my officials in the Women and Equality Unit produced a fact sheet, available on their website which gives more information about Minority Ethnic Women in Public Life.

To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on gender budgeting. [146250]

I have had no specific discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on gender budgeting, however I have jointly sponsored, with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure.I believe gender analysis of expenditure can be an extremely useful tool in both policy development and evaluation. My officials in WEU have worked closely with HMT during the pilot project, with DTI being one of two Departments taking part. Lessons from this project will be used to inform further work in this area.

To ask the Minister for Women what assessment has been made of the contribution of occupational segregation to the skills gap. [146254]

Within the recent Skills Strategy, 21^st Century Skills, Realising our Potential, we have highlighted the challenge in making real improvements in raising the skills level of our workforce. We know that the majority of working women are concentrated in just five occupational groups which are often low paid and low skilled. For example 89 per cent. of hairdressers and beauticians are women and in a survey their average pay was found to be the second lowest of all occupations¹.Some sectors identified as having significant skill weaknesses, such as Construction and Transport and Communications, have extreme occupational segregation. Only 9 per cent. of the workforce in Construction are women and 24 per cent. in Transport and Communications.While we cannot entirely influence women's career choices, both the Skills Strategy and our recent Innovation Report identifies some of the levers to improve skills levels and for the UK to have a highly educated workforce with a culture of lifelong learning. To do this we have made a commitment to provide better information, advice and guidance on skills, training and qualifications so that people know what is available to them.We have identified that our young people need to be properly prepared for the world of work. That is why we have commissioned a Working Group, chaired by Mike Tomlinson to advise on the development of more coherent vocational programmes for 14–19 year olds to ensure they have the necessary skills for employment and adult life. We want both girls and boys to make informed choices about their vocational routes and our Modern Apprenticeships will help support young people in their career choices and to improve their workplace skills, particularly at craft, supervisory and technician level.Our Employer Training Pilots, introduced in September 2002, is designed to increase the demand for training by reducing barriers and providing training in more responsive ways. Over 20,000 learners and over 5,000 employers are now engaged. Trends show that

overall there is a high proportion of female learners involved in pilots from all sectors, with a large majority concentrated in education and health and social work which is in line with the national average.

To ask the Minister for Women what steps are being taken to close the pay gap between men and women. [146258]

The Government are taking forward a range of policies to tackle the gender pay gap. These include a new questionnaire procedure for use in equal pay cases, and measures to simplify and speed up equal pay tribunal procedures. The Government have led by example in committing all Civil Service departments and agencies to review their pay systems and produce action plans to close any equal pay gaps. The Government have provided funding for the EOC to develop equal pay tool kits so all organisations can carry out equal pay reviews. Measures to help parents maintain links with the world of work and better balance their work and home lives will contribute to a reduction of the pay gap. The Government also welcomes the EOC's investigation into modern apprenticeships and the concentration of men and women in different professions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets (a) her and (b) her Ministers' offices have for responding to constituency mail; and if she will set out the performance achieved in the last 12 months against these targets. [145603]

The departmental target for responding to constituency mail (i.e. letters from hon. Members and the public) is 18 working days.The figures for performance against target for the period 1 December 2002 to 1 December 2003 are as follows:

	Percentage answered within 18 working days
MPs cases	79
Members of the public	73

The Department produces regular statistics to monitor the performance on answering ministerial letters. These statistics are produced for review and discussion by the permanent secretary and the management board.In addition, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The report for 2002 was published on 15 May 2003. The report for 2003 will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by her Department on the postage of Christmas cards (a) in the last year and (b) since 1997. [145596]

No assessment of postage was made but the majority of cards were sent by second class post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many more analogue transmitters need to be converted to digital to achieve the same reach as the current analogue transmitters. [145617]

There are currently 1,154 transmitters in the UK; 80 of those, including all the main stations, are able to transmit both analogue and digital signals. It is estimated that around 1,150 transmitters would be necessary to reach, on switchover, the same level of coverage by digital terrestrial television as previously with the current analogue transmitters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Millennium Commission contributed to Bradford Cathedral's Life Force Exhibition; what checks were carried out on the exhibition's financial viability before the grant was given; who carried out the financial viability study; how many visitors the exhibition expected to attract; how many attended; what plans she has to change the procedures for financial scrutiny of Lottery grant applications; and if she will make a statement. [146234]

As detailed issues relating to Lottery funding of Bradford Cathedral's Life Force Exhibition are primarily for the Millennium Commission, I will write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.On the more general matter of scrutiny of Lottery grant applications, Lottery distributing bodies' financial directions already require them to have clearly developed policies and procedures for the financial, and, where appropriate, economic appraisal of projects, of which risk assessment should be an important part, and to assess applications in accordance with those procedures. Revisions to the financial directions being discussed with distributing bodies will further strengthen these requirements to focus more directly on risk assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she expects that the merger between the Metropolitan Police Service and the Royal Parks Constabulary will be completed in April 2004; and if she will make a statement. [144900]

[holding answer 6 January 2004]: Merger of the two police forces will require primary legislation which will be introduced at the earliest opportunity but will not be in place by 1 April 2004. The Department is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that effective policing of the Royal Parks is maintained until Parliament has approved the merger proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to encourage an increase in the provision of subtitling on television. [145580]

The Communications Act 2003 has strengthened the requirements for subtitling on television. The Act sets subtitling targets of 90 per cent. of programmes on Channels 3 and 4, and 80 per cent. of programmes on all other channels, by the tenth anniversary of the start of the service. The Act also introduces a fixed, five-year interim target of 60 per cent. for subtitling, to accelerate progress during the early years. Under the Act, these requirements have been extended to digital cable and satellite broadcasters for the first time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding (a) VisitBritain, (b) the Scottish Tourist Office and (c) the Welsh Tourist Office will receive in 2003–04. [145588]

For 2003–04, VisitBritain has been allocated £45.9 million in baseline grant-in-aid by my Department, VisitScotland has been allocated £29.1 million in baseline grant in aid by the Scottish Executive and the Wales Tourist Board has been allocated £22.2 million in baseline grant in aid by the Welsh Assembly Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of VisitBritain's funding is spent solely on English tourism. [145589]

£10.4 million is available to VisitBritain in 2003–04 for the domestic marketing of England. £35.5 million is available in 2003–04 for the overseas promotion of Britain (including England) as a tourist destination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to ensure that regional development agencies share best practice. [146079]

The Government believe that much added value can be gained from Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) sharing best practice. One of the measures of RDA performance is an assessment of how effective each RDA has been in working with other RDAs across regional boundaries and sharing innovation and best practice with each other.Examples of the sharing of best practice include regular meetings between RDA Chairs. In addition, the RDAs nominated as "in the lead" for particular issues are also important catalysts for sharing best practice. These lead RDAs establish new networks of contacts on particular subjects that enable the efficient sharing of information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much additional funding she intends to make available to British Energy as part of the credit facility to the company outlined in her written statement of 14 October; and if she will make a statement. [141540]

[holding answer 2 December 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 1 December 2003, Official Report, columns 50–51 WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she intends to bring forward primary legislation to tackle loan sharks, as outlined in the White Paper, "Fair, Clear and Competitive: A Consumer Credit Market for the 21st Century". [146144]

My Department is bringing forward a package of legislative proposals—requiring both primary and secondary legislation—to reform the consumer credit market in the UK. Tackling loan sharks is a key part of this package. We have announced a project concerned with hunting loan sharks, though this relies on existing legislative provision. Primary legislation will be used to address the licensing regime for consumer credit providers; time orders; unfair credit transactions and the provision of alternative dispute resolution for consumer credit disputes. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that the 10th Company Law Directive on cross-border mergers will have on management of United Kingdom companies. [146148]

The Commission proposal for a 10th Company Law Directive on cross-border mergers was published on 18 November 2003. My officials met City and business representatives and had other informal contacts with interested parties during December in order to assess the likely impact of the Directive on UK companies, including as regards their management.On the basis of these discussions, and internal departmental consideration, an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment on the anticipated costs and benefits of the Commission proposal was prepared alongside the Explanatory Memorandum (153305/03) submitted to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees on 15 December 2003 and is available in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the 8-week rule on (a) employers and (b) employees; and if she will make it her policy to abolish it. [146177]

During the recent review of the Employment Relations Act 1999, the Government looked closely at the operation of protections from dismissal for employees taking lawfully organised official industrial action. The conclusion of that review, as set out in the response to consultation published last month, is that the 8-week rule should be retained and that the Employment Relations Bill will introduce improvements to the existing protections. These changes are designed to ensure, firstly, that days where employees are 'locked-out' during official industrial action are disregarded in calculating the 8-week period; and secondly that the procedural steps employers and employees must take under the statute to attempt to resolve a dispute are clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of employees in the UK information and communication technology sector who are (a) nationals of countries outside the UK and (b) nationals of countries outside the EU. [146136]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have been employed in the information and communication technology sector in each year since 1997. [146137]

The figures for the UK, in thousands, are as follows; the latest year for which information is available is 2001.

	Number (Thousand)
1997	n/a
1998	1,216
1999	1,291
2000	1,376
2001	1,420

n/a = Not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that a lack of trust in security has on use of the internet in the UK. [146139]

We have long known that users' trust and confidence in the internet would impact on its uptake. This was recognised in the September 1999 report from the Performance and Innovation Unit, "e-commerce@its.best.uk" which identified trust as one of the three pillars which would support the adoption of the internet in the UK. Studies into consumer behaviour in 2001 and 2002 ("Informing Consumers About e-commerce and "Internet and Cross Border Shopping") showed that the perception of credit card fraud was a significant concern to on-line consumers. That said, on-line shopping represented 6 per cent. of all UK retail in 2002, and was set to grow to £14 billion in 2003 as part of a continuing growth in use of the internet throughout the economy. Our latest study—the "International Benchmarking Study" published by DTI in November 2003—showed that the impact of a lack of confidence on internet usage appears to be receding. It was also noted that security and trust were seen as less of a barrier to internet usage by UK business than was the case in previous benchmarking studies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in each constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) currently; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work volumes on behalf of the Benefits Agency. [146544]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 299W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises have the same opportunities to compete for contracts for public sector user-framework agreements as larger firms; and if she will make a statement. [145407]

The Government are working to encourage small firms to secure public sector contracts.This includes implementing the recommendations of a recent Better Regulation Task Force/Small Business Council report, which made a number of recommendations to improve SMEs ability to compete against large companies for contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of producing the report, "The Regulation of Licensed Taxi and PHV Services in the UK", OFT 676; and when she expects to respond to its recommendations. [145821]

The cost of producing the report is a matter for the Chairman of the OFT—I have asked him to write to the hon. Member directly. My right hon. Friend will respond to the report and its recommendations within 120 days (by 9 March 2004).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether she has performed an impact assessment to determine what percentage of veterinary surgeons would be adversely affected by the recommendations contained within the Competition Commission report into prescription only veterinary medicines; [146093]

In recent months, I and members of my Department, have had several meetings with representatives of the RCVS, the BVA and other professional bodies. We have listened carefully to the views of the profession particularly in relation to animal health and welfare. These discussions have been helpful and productive and identified opportunities to reduce the potential need for legislation by addressing many of Competition Commission recommendations within the industry's own professional code of practice.A consultation document together with a draft impact assessment and the draft legislation we consider is necessary to implement these recommendations is currently being finalised in discussion with DEFRA. This will be issued shortly and will provide all interested parties with a further opportunity to comment on how best to carry forward the Commission's recommendations. Reflecting the Government's better regulation agenda, the DTI would look closely at proposals from the profession to take forward some or all of them within the industry's own professional rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people over the age of 60 were victims of (a) attacks and (b) abuse in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [145629]

The most recent information available on violent crime victimisation of people over the age of 60 is from the 2000 British Crime Survey, which measures crime in 1999 (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 08/02, Chivite-Matthews and Maggs, 2002). This showed that 0.9 per cent. of women aged 60 and over and 1.1 per cent. of men in this age group were victims of at least one incident of violence in England and Wales that year. There were approximately 132,000 incidents of violence against older people in 1999, however some people may have experienced more than one incident in the year. People aged 60 and over had a lower risk of experiencing violent crime than other age groups, and were also less likely to be repeatedly victimised.More recent figures are available for those aged 65 or over. In 2001–02, 0.7 per cent of men aged 65 to 74 and 0.7 per cent. of women in this age group experienced one or more violent incidents, while 0.6 per cent. of men aged 75 and over and 0.5 per cent. of women aged 75 and over did so. In 2002–03, 1.3 per cent of men and 0.7 per cent. of women aged 65 to 74 and 0.4 per cent of men and 0.6 per cent. of women aged 75 and over were victims of a violent crime (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 07/03. Simmons and Dodd, 2003).The statistics do not make a distinction between attacks and abuse.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which areas the alcohol harm reduction strategy will be implemented. [146313]

The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published an interim analytical report on the harms associated with alcohol misuse on 19 September 2003. This report identifies the following broad areas of policy intervention: education, information and communication; supply and pricing; health and treatment services; and community safety and criminal justice. The findings of this report will be used to inform development of the Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy, which will cover all areas of England.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many security passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months. [144268]

The total number of Home Office Security Passes reported lost or stolen on the London and Croydon Estates for the 12 months ending 11 December 2003 was 291; for London 162, for Croydon 129.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents. [144978]

Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics website at: http://www. civil-Service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdfThis information is also available in the Libraries of the House. The latest statistics show that in my Department there are no senior civil servants with a disability.The Department is concerned that there are no known disabled staff in the Senior Civil Service (SCS) and we are implementing an action programme to address the position.There are significant numbers of staff with disability at junior and middle management levels and this should lead eventually in to senior levels. Reasonable adjustments are provided at promotion and selection boards for disabled candidates and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled staff who meet minimum requirements for vacancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of public fear of crime. [146272]

The latest published statistics from the British Crime Survey, the quarterly update to June 2003, report that levels of fear of crime in the key categories of burglary, vehicle and violent crime have fallen, compared to June 2002. 14 per cent. of adults had high levels of worry about burglary (compared with 15 per cent. in June 2002), 16 per cent. had high levels of worry about vehicle crime (compared with 18 per cent.) and 20 per cent. had high levels of worry about violent crime (compared with 21 per cent.).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the change in the number of firearm offences since March 2001. [146267]

Home Office figures indicate that, in 2001–02, firearms offences (excluding those involving air weapons) increased by 35 per cent. from the previous year. Provisional figures released on 16 October 2003 show a total number of firearms offences in England and Wales in 2002–03 (excluding air weapons) was around 10,250 or around 3 per cent. higher than in 2001–02.The overall level of firearms offences as a proportion of all recorded crime remains steady, at less than half of one 1 per cent.In 2001–02, there were 95 recorded incidents in which injury following a firearms offence proved fatal. Provisional figures show that this figure fell by 16 per cent. in 2002–03. Final figures for 2002–03 will be published soon.This remains an appalling loss of life on our streets and in our communities and we are continuing a programme of action covering community engagement, enforcement, legislation and tackling the links to drug supply and crime to deal with it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of graffiti. [146320]

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduces a package of measures to prevent graffiti and to ensure that it is removed swiftly when it does occur.The Act will give local authorities new powers to clean graffiti from certain types of property, including cable boxes, post boxes, phone booths, and property associated with public transport. It will also contain proposals to restrict the sale of spray paints to under 16s

Number of juveniles found guilty at all courts of all offences and number given cautions, North West region, 1992 to 2002
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
St. Helens
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	270	216	240	219	227	227
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	3—	3—	3—	3—	3—	3—
Merseyside police force area (including St. Helens)
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	2,510	2,112	2,260	2,478	2,889	2,789
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	4,602	3,748	3,209	2,495	2,693	3,569
North West region (including Merseyside)2
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	11,912	9,784	10,810	19,461	12,644	13,127
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	22,676	19,110	11,635	17,708	18,446	16,581

	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
St. Helens
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	224	373	373	408	346
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	3—	3—	3—	3—	3—
Merseyside police force area (including St. Helens)
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	2,780	2,613	3,096	3,142	3,029
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	3,909	3,554	2,177	1,498	1,793
North West region (including Merseyside)2
Persons aged 10–17 found guilty	13,866	14,389	16,032	16,455	16,209
Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution1	19,026	16,328	12,501	11,966	9,750
1 Cautions for persons under 18 were replaced by reprimands and final warnings from June 2000.
2 Includes police force areas of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
3 not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) crimes were committed by, and (b) cautions were issued to, juvenile offenders in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the North West in each year since 1992. [144323]

The table gives the number of juveniles convicted of all offences in St. Helens, Merseyside and the North West Region, 1992 to 2002. It also shows those given cautions (reprimands and final warnings from June 2000) in Merseyside and the North West during this period.The information collected centrally does not enable cautions in St. Helens to be separately identified. Neither is it possible to give the number of crimes committed by juveniles, only the number of juveniles who are found guilty of all offences.Statistics for 2003 will be published in the Autumn of 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) thefts of motor vehicles and (b) thefts from motor vehicles occurred in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each were committed after a window was broken. [145533]

	1998	2000	2001–02	2002–03
Total thefts of /thefts from motor vehicle (Number)	2,527,000	2,135,000	1,806,000	1,703,000
Of which:
Thefts of a motor vehicle (Number)	370,000	328,000	315,000	278,000
Offender broke window/tried to (Percentage)	16	13	17	Not yet available
Thefts from a motor vehicle (Number)	2,157,000	1,807,000	1,491,000	1,425,000
Offender broke window/tried to (Percentage)	49	47	45	Not yet available

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will include in the next edition of the booklet "Steer Clear of Car Crime" a reference to the retro-fitting of security film to motor vehicle windows; [145534](2) pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2003,

We recognise that the retro-fitting of security film to motor vehicle windows has the potential to improve vehicle perimeter security. We will raise motorists' awareness of security film through Government publicity material, including the booklet "Steer Clear of Car Crime", when we are satisfied that products are available that meet Home Office attack resistance requirements and the appropriate standards set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Directive 92/22/EEC and UN/ECE Regulation 43 to ensure safety and durability.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the response of the police to the Getting the Best Leaders to Take on the Most Demanding Challenges project. [146276]

An extensive consultation exercise was undertaken on the key findings contained in the project on "Getting the Best Leaders to Take on the Most Demanding Challenges". A number of regional seminars were held to discuss the key findings with those who would be most affected by any new policies arising from the project report. Approximately 320 people, representing the broad spectrum of the police service attended the seminars and over 100 written responses were also received. The results of the consultation exercise were considered by the Police Leadership Development Board (PLDB) on which all the major stakeholders, including all the police associations and the Association of Police Authorities are represented.These responses and the views of the PLDB informed the advice given to Ministers and subsequent decisions on the future direction of policy.

Estimates from British Crime Surveys (BCS) are set out in the table. In 1998 and 2000 BCS respondents were asked about their experiences of crime in the previous calendar year. Following a change in the BCS sample design, from 2001–02 onwards respondents were asked about their experiences of crime in the 12 months prior to the interview.As a result we are taking forward a number of measures to improve the identification, selection, support and development of those with the potential to be chief officers, including establishing a central advisory service which will be an embryonic form of a new body, the Police Leadership Centre, which will bring together all central work on police leadership within the remit of one organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the pay and conditions package for the police implemented from 1 April 2003. [146277]

The package provides improved and modernised pay and conditions of service for the police. It has a number of elements that are important for the wider police reform agenda including modernising the pay system, enabling greater flexibility and targeting rewards for priority work. I am pleased that all parties to the Police Negotiating Board agreement that led to the package are now working to ensure its effective implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list, for each police force in England and Wales, the total number of (a) male and (b) female police officers in post for each of the last 10 years; [142057](2) if he will list, for each police force in England and Wales, the total number of

[holding answer 16 December 2003]: Available information covers the period 1996 to 2003 for gender and rank. In 2003 new calculations for counting police numbers were introduced so the figures are not comparable with previous years.A copy of the statistics have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 11th December, Official Report, column 621W, whether the net proceeds were £6,635,335; and to whom this money was distributed. [145956]

The net proceeds were £602,195, which is the value of cash forfeited by the Metropolitan Police Service (MRS) under the new powers in the Act. The money was remitted to the Consolidated Fund. The sum of £7,237,530 given in my earlier reply represented the total amount of cash seized by the Metropolitan Police. Cash seized can only be forfeited and paid into the Consolidated Fund after a forfeiture order is made by a magistrates' court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the agreement with the US on bases on UK territory says about the holding of prisoners other than US Service personnel. [145787]

I have been asked to reply.There is no specific agreement regarding the holding of prisoners. However, the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 1951 state that the military authorities of the sending state only have jurisdiction over persons who are subject to the military law of that state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq will be deemed to have been completed. [146184]

The search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is the responsibility of the Iraq Survey Group. Once the ISG has made its final recommendations concerning the state of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes it will be for governments to decide what, if any, further action is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will respond to the correspondence to his Department containing the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust's Legacy Project study. [144454]

The Ministry of Defence was consulted at official level when the study was under way. The Department subsequently received a copy of the Legacy Project's report following its launch on 5 November 2003. The Report and its recommendations are now being studied. Officials have already made informal contact with the Legacy Project and look forward to discussing the Report in the near future.A number of my Ministerial colleagues have received letters about the Report and responses are now being prepared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation he has made of (a) the Medical Supplies Agency as a whole and (b) the specific operational capabilities of medical distribution centres. [145349]

The Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) is subject to several formal mechanisms of ministerial and other evaluation. The Agency Annual Report and Financial Accounts is presented to the House of Commons pursuant to Section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. The latest Report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2003 and a copy was placed in the Library of the House on 17 November 2003. In addition to the financial statements, with a certificate by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Report covers a review of activity, an assessment of performance against agreed key targets and a statement on future strategy. The financial statement is also subject to interim audit by the National Audit Office.The principal means by which Ministers can evaluate the MSA, and its Medical Distribution Centres, is through the Key Target process. This involves the agreement with Ministers of wide-ranging performance targets for the MSA. Achievement against these targets is then closely monitored and reported to Ministers, through the Director General Management and Organisation, and shown in the Agency Annual Report and Financial Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the case of Grieves v. the United Kingdom; what effects he anticipates this will have on naval courts martial; and what further legislation he anticipates will be necessary to protect service law from challenges from the European Court of Human Rights. [145958]

I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 5–6WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists lost their civilian jobs as a result of serving in the armed forces, in each of the last five years; how many filed claims for compensation; what the average time taken to settle each case was; how much was received by each of the claimants, net of legal expenses; and if he will make a statement. [146178]

There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Ministry of Defence. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the numbers of reservists who may have lost their civilian jobs as a result of service in the armed forces. However, protection is provided by reinstatement under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985. Over 8,600 reservists were called-out to support Operation TELIC and we are aware of only 11 individuals who needed to bring a case under the 1985 Act. This continues to show the high level of support from both reservists and employers which the Government is pleased to acknowledge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army doctors are serving in the Gulf. [145767]

Eleven.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 830W, what contracts his Department entered into prior to the last 12 months with (a) Avient Air and (b) other companies in which Mr. Andrew Smith has an interest; what services were provided to his Department under these contracts; what the value of these contracts was; when these contracts were entered into; and if he will make a statement. [146418]

We had no contracts with Avient Air. As far as my Department is aware, we had none with any other companies in which Mr. Smith has an interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department. [146006]

Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics website at: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/ statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdfAs there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my 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.DFID's target for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts is 3.3 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he will take to increase access to anti-retro viral drugs for HIV positive people in the African pandemic area. [145160]

DFID is committed to working with others, including our donor partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.With the World Health Organisation, DFID believes that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines.In line with this, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since May 1997 to support the strengthening of health and supply systems in developing countries, which will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection of drugs. The UK has also pledged £280 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This will help strengthen health system capacity to deliver effective and affordable prevention, treatment, care and support programmes, based on locally determined needs and building upon countries own national priorities. According to UNAIDS, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor for HIV/AIDS programmes.DFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. We welcome recent reductions in the price of both patent and generic anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV. These reductions have created new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. We will continue to work with the WHO, the patent based and generic pharmaceutical industries and others to further reduce prices. DFID supports the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will co-ordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died from asbestos-related diseases in London in each year since 1990; and what estimates his Department has made of the number of likely deaths in future years. [146087]

The numbers of deaths each year from 1990 in the Government Office Region of London due to mesothelioma, and deaths where the deceased had asbestosis are given in the following table. In addition, it is estimated that for each mesothelioma there are one to two lung cancer deaths due to asbestos.

Deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis in London, 1990–2001
	Mesothelioma	Asbestosis (without mesothelioma or lung cancer)
1990	116	16
1991	109	32
1992	116	14
1993	140	14
1994	135	14
1995	138	12
1996	137	25
1997	157	14
1998	150	9
1999	158	12
2000	1161	12
2001	1175	13
1 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance awards were allocated to each disability group as defined by the Department (a) since the new pack was introduced in October 2003 and (b) under the previous system. [146740]

Information on the proportion of attendance allowance awards allocated to each disability group as defined by the Department is obtained from quarterly extracts from the attendance allowance computer system. The last quarterly extract covered the quarter ending 31 August 2003.

New attendance allowance awards by medical condition during the quarter ending 31 August 2003
	Thousand
All	84.8
Other unspecified mainly terminally ill	10.5
Arthritis	18.1
Spondylosis	0.6
Back pain—not specified	0.6
Disease of the muscles, bones or joints	3.9
Trauma to limbs	0.6
Blindness	2.5
Deafness	10.1
Heart disease	7.5
Chest disease	3.9
Asthma	0.8
Cerebrovascular disease	5.1
Peripheral vascular disease	0.6
Frailty	14.3
Epilepsy	10.2
Neurological diseases	0.9
Multiple sclerosis	10.1
Parkinsons disease	1.8
Motor Neuron disease	10.1
Chronic fatigue syndromes	—
Diabetes mellitus	1.6
Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia	—
Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia tetraplegia	10.1
Mental subnormality	—
Psychosis	10.4
Psychoneurosis	0.7
Dementia	7.3
Behavioural disorder	—
Alcohol abuse	10.1
Renal disorders	10.2
Inflammatory bowel disease	10.1
Bowel and stomach disease	10.3
Blood disorders	10.3
Multi system disorders	—
Skin disease	—
Malignant disease	1.7
Haemodialysis	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance claims, processed since the new claim pack was introduced in October 2003, have been subject to appeal. [146742]

The following information shows the number of decisions made on new attendance allowance claims in the months of October and November 2003 and the number of attendance allowance appeals registered in the same months. Decisions appealed in October and November will contain a mix of claims made on the old and new forms. No separate data is available.

	October 2003	November 2003
Decisions made	35,111	30,957
Appeals registered	1,213	1,120
Percentage	3.45	3.61

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance claimants have been contacted by telephone to discuss their claim since the new claim pack was introduced in October 2003. [146743]

Statistics on the number of telephone calls made to attendance allowance customers to discuss their claim are not routinely collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the piloting of capability reports for personal advisers in jobcentres; and if he will make a statement. [146623]

Since 2000, the Department has been piloting the use of capability reports by personal advisers conducting work-focused interviews with customers claiming incapacity benefit. The Department commissioned research to assess the effectiveness of this capability report in supporting personal advisers and has undertaken additional in-house evaluation.