To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the most recent survey of people's perceptions of organ donation. [148800]

Research has confirmed that 90 per cent. of the UK population support organ donation and nearly 20 per cent. have registered their intention to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the funding of children's hospices. [148801]

Funding for children's hospices is available through primary care trusts which are responsible for funding health care for their resident population. Local authorities can also fund services, including children's respite care. The New Opportunities Fund has provided £48 million over three years in support of palliative care projects for children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposed introduction of a compensation scheme for hepatitis C sufferers infected with contaminated blood products. [148802]

Work on the detail of the scheme is being finalised and we hope to be in a position to announce the details soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to the work of the World Health Organisation. [148803]

The Department of Health is responsible for the United Kingdom's annual subscription to the World Health Organisation. This contribution is based on the United Nation scales of assessment, with the UK contributing—in 2003–04—5.5 per cent. of WHO's regular programme budget, or £13.5 million. In addition the Department supports WHO in practical ways, including secondment of staff, membership of expert committees and work in the formal meetings of the governing bodies of WHO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of NHS dental treatment in North Lincolnshire. [148804]

The Government remain committed to ensuring that national health service dentistry is available to all who need it and seek it. We recognise however that access to NHS dentistry can be difficult in some areas. We have announced additional resources totalling £59 million over this year and next to support dental access.A NHS support team is working with the hardest pressed areas, including North East Lincolnshire, and we hope that this and other local initiatives will ease the pressure on dental services in North Lincolnshire. We have also made available a one-off payment of £30,000 to North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust to improve access to NHS dentists. The PCT will use this money to extend a general dental practice in the area, which will allow that practice to register more NHS patients on an agreed basis over a three year period.We are also working with the PCTs and dentists in North and North East Lincolnshire to see what support can be provided to move dentists on to personal dental services arrangements, which would take them off the bureaucratic treadmill of item of service fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the 2001 restrictions on non-EU-trained dentists practising in the United Kingdom on the availability of dentistry. [147504]

From 2001, the General Dental Council (GDC) ceased making visitations to dental schools in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with the result that dentists who qualified after this date and wish to practise here have to sit the GDC's international qualifying examination. The number of dentists from those countries admitted to the GDC register since 2000 is shown in the table.

	Australia	New Zealand	South Africa
2000	174	134	876
2001	178	142	938
2002	168	136	1,022
2003	168	125	1,037

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign-trained dentists were practising in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990, broken down by (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalents. [147505]

The table shows the number of general dental service (GDS) foreign-trained dentists practising in England and Wales in each year since 1993. Information is not available for years before 1993.Information on a full-time equivalent basis is not available. GDS dentists can vary the amount of dental work they do and the proportion carried out in the GDS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote respite care. [148805]

The Government are committed to seeing a range of services available locally for people who need services and their carers.The carers grant has provided an extra £325 million since 1999 to support local councils in arranging breaks services for carers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he envisages for the private sector in providing respite care facilities for people with learning difficulties. [148687]

The private sector has an important role in providing respite care and short break services for people with learning disabilities and we envisage that this will continue to be the case. Respite care and short break services should provide high quality and flexible support to people with learning disabilities and their families. Such support can be provided in different ways by agencies from a variety of sectors including the private sector. People with learning disabilities can also use direct payments to directly purchase for themselves services, from a variety of sources, to meet their assessed needs include respite care and short breaks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund research into Ehler-Danlos disease. [148806]

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is not currently funding any research into Ehlers-Danlos though it does fund a number of research projects into connective tissue and also into collagen physiology. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent statistics for the mortality rate from coronary heart disease are in the area covered by the Bolton primary care trust. [148807]

In 2002, the most recent year for which data are available, the mortality rate from coronary heart disease for residents of Bolton Primary Care Trust was 230 male deaths per 100,000 population and 108 female deaths per 100,000 population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what performance indicators are in place for NHS audiology services. [149081]

There are no national performance indicators for national health service audiology services. It is for primary care trusts to plan these services in response to the needs of their local communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fine social services departments in the case of delayed discharges in community hospitals. [148370]

We plan to extend the system of reimbursement for delayed discharges to all hospital patients in a phased way, once it begins to make an impact in the acute sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason his Department no longer collects information for patients aged 75 and over on emergency readmissions to hospital within 28 days of discharge. [149008]

The target, and subsequently the collection of monitoring information on emergency readmissions, was changed from that relating only to patients aged 75 because it was perceived as being ageist in that older people could be denied access to hospital services in order to meet a performance target. Emergency readmissions targets and data collections have, therefore, covered all ages since April 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 602W, on foundation hospitals, if he will list those applications for foundation hospital status which have been submitted to the Independent Regulator. [148409]

I refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial statement of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 49WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the preparatory materials submitted by the national health service trusts seeking the Secretary of State's support for an application for NHS foundation trust status. [147933]

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave on Monday 5 January 2004, Official Report, column. 189W. I will arrange for copies of the applications submitted to the independent regulator to be placed in the Library. I will also arrange for the Department's summary of each applicant to be placed in the Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) consultant geriatricians and(b) geriatricians below the level of consultant were employed by the NHS in each year since 1997. [148827]

The table shows the number of consultants in geriatric medicine and geriatricians below the level of consultant who were employed by the national health service in each year since 1997.

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultant grade and other staff with a specialty in geriatric medicine
England1		Number (headcount)
	All staff	of which:
		Consultants	Non-consultants3
June 2003	2—	894	2—
2002	2,707	861	1,846
2001	2,558	781	1,777
2000	2,572	767	1,805
1999	2,505	719	1,786
1998	2,560	712	1,848
1997	2,527	677	1,850
1Data as at 30 September except 2003, where data as at 30 June.
2Data not available. This is due to 2003 data being taken from the mini census, which collected consultants only.
3Grades below the level of consultant include staff grade, associate specialist, registrar group, senior house officer, house officer, hospital practitioner, clinical assistant and other staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been provided (a) in absolute terms and (b) per head of population served by the Trust for the United Lincolnshire NHS Trust in each year since 1995. [148474]

Funding is not allocated to national health service trusts. NHS trusts as providers of services receive the bulk of their revenue funding from commissioning by primary care trusts. Since 2003–04 funding has been allocated to PCTs, and before then to health authorities.The table shows cash allocations and allocations per head of population for Lincolnshire health authority, East Lincolnshire PCT and Lincolnshire South West Teaching PCT. Prior to 1996–97 allocations were made to regional health authorities, no information is available for Lincolnshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require independent diagnostic and treatment centres to have patients' forums. [148680]

There are no plans to require independent treatment centres to have patients' forums. The patients forums set up for primary care trusts (PCTs) that commission services from independent treatment centres can monitor and review services that the treatment centre provides, as well as carry out their other functions in relation to them. Directions issued to PCTs on 27 November 2003 require PCTs to ensure that contracts they place with all independent sector providers includes provisions that:

require those providers to allow entry to patients' forums to enter and inspect premises where those services are provided; and

require those providers to give information in relation to those services to patients' forums when requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights of access to (a) people, (b) papers and (c) premises (i) overview and scrutiny committees and (ii) primary care trust patient forums will have in respect of independent diagnostic and treatment centres operating within their area. [148679]

[holding answer 19 January 2004]: In relation to the operation of independent treatment centres, overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) do not have rights of access to people, papers or premises of independent treatment centres. OSCs that want to scrutinise independent services should do so via the primary care trust (PCT) that commissioned the services.Patients' forums have a right to enter and inspect independent premises and the right to information only if the contract between the PCT and the provider is compliant with directions issued to PCTs last November. These directions require PCTs to ensure that contracts they place with all independent sector providers include provisions that require those providers to allow entry to patients' forums to enter and inspect premises where those services are provided and require those providers to give information in relation to those services to patients' forums when requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how public-patient involvement will be delivered for independent diagnostic and treatment centres. [148682]

[holding answer 19 January 2004]: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring that section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001—the duty to involve and consult patients and the public—is complied with when making arrangements for another organisation, person or people to provide services. This includes independent treatment centres (ITCs).PCT patients' forums have powers to monitor and review the services provided by ITCs. Contracts between PCTs and ITCs will include a requirement to allow PCT patients' forums to enter the premises of ITCs.Local authority overview and scrutiny committees with the power to review the planning, provision and operation of services will be able to use those powers in relation to ITCs, through the scrutiny of those PCTs which contract with ITCs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the additional cost of implementing in full the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-term Care. [143376]

The cost of introducing free personal care for everyone in England has been estimated at £1.5 billion. The cost would increase to £1.8 billion with equivalent payments to the devolved Administrations. None of this extra expenditure, were it to be made in this way, would increase choice or services available to older people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for in-patient treatment in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many people have been waiting over 12 months for inpatient treatment. [147989]

[pursuant to his answer, 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 858W]:: I regret my previous answer was incomplete. The response should read as follows.As of 30 November 2003, 7,972 patients were waiting for elective inpatient admission, and no patients were waiting over 12 months. The source of this data is the Department of Health monthly monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list contracts his Department has awarded to the Miller Group in each of the last three years. [149431]

No contracts have been awarded by the Department of Health to the Miller Group in any of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the monitoring and roll out of the national fruit scheme and its impact on the consumption of fruit by four to six-year-olds in deprived areas. [148793]

Following successful national piloting, the National School Fruit Scheme will be extended nationwide by the end of 2004. It already operates in four regions and covers 35 of the 50 most deprived wards in England.This extension means that more than 2 million children will now benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will clarify the National Institute for Clinical Excellence advice on the provision of medicines to those patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. [148276]

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is consulting on the first draft of a technology appraisal on the use of medicines for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. The document does not constitute NICE's formal guidance on this technology: the recommendations are preliminary and may change after the consultation. The draft document is available on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total charges collected from local authorities for personal care in each of the last six years. [144294]

The information shown in the table shows total resident/service user contributions to care costs including personal care. The Department of

Income from client contributions (sales, fees and charges)—England
£000
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Older people (aged 65 or over) including older mentally ill
Nursing home placements	228,539	314,022	352,600	417,420	473,685	486,375
Residential care home placements	583,604	633,776	738,424	819,193	909,022	943,997
Home care	93,969	113,876	140,433	159,148	170,310	173,915
Total older people	906,112	1,061,674	1,231,457	1,395,761	1,553,017	1,604,287
Adults aged under 65 with a physical disability or sensory impairment
Nursing home placements	9,060	12,772	13,784	18,597	21,574	25,289
Residential care home placements	29,361	34,953	39,999	44,071	46,958	48,680
Home care	5,820	8,901	10,408	16,438	17,508	16,709
Total adults aged under 65 with a physical disability etc.	44,241	56,626	64,191	79,106	86,040	90,678
Adults aged under 65 with learning disabilities
Nursing home placements	4,697	7,296	7.846	7,115	9,767	9,810
Residential care home placements	129,471	153,623	200,848	212,472	216,321	240,966
Home care	2,012	3,397	7,328	8,822	10,195	14,039
Total adults aged under 65 with learning disabilities	136,180	164,316	216.022	228,409	236,283	264,815
Adults aged under 65 with mental health needs
Nursing home placements	8,835	6,713	8,947	10,503	10,104	11,168
Residential care home placements	39,634	47,163	51,193	59.765	52,098	52,872
Home care	1,164	1,424	1,470	1,920	1,952	1,982
Total adults aged under 65 with mental health needs	49,633	55,300	61,610	72,188	64,153	66,022
All adults and older people
Nursing home placements	251,131	340,803	383,177	453,635	515,130	532,642
Residential care home placements	782,070	869,515	1,030,464	1,135,501	1,224,398	1,286,515
Home care	102,965	127,598	159,639	186,328	199,964	206,645
Total adults and older people	1,136,166	1,337,916	1,573,280	1,775,464	1,939,492	2,025,802

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of PET scanners in the NHS. [148062]

In response to requests from national health service and research stakeholders the Department of Health will shortly publish a framework for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning for consultation. This framework will set out a national policy position for PET in the NHS which will set out, from the evidence, which tumour groups would benefit from PET scanning, likely future demand, and the optimal configuration and location of PET scanners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the provision of smallpox vaccinations for medical personnel. [148762]

[holding answer 19 January 2004]: As part of its overall preparedness strategy for dealing with bioterrorism, the Department has produced a detailed smallpox plan. This plan requires that each standard Government region should have a regional response group consisting of five response teams each comprising of five members vaccinated against smallpox. Corresponding arrangements are being made for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This cohort of healthcare workers would be the first responders in investigating any suspected or confirmed cases of smallpox and therefore need to be protected against the threat of disease. A programme to

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current funds are in the discretionary fund available to victims and families of new variant CJD; what the outstanding claims are on that discretionary fund; and if he will make a statement on the future operation of the discretionary fund. [145112]

It was in recognition of the special plight of those affected by variant CJD (vCJD) that the Government established the vCJD Trust which oversees the payment of no-fault compensation to the families involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve the level of supervision of banks. [149499]

The regime for prudential supervision of banks is kept under constant review, both at home and internationally, in forums such as the European Union and the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision. On 1 June 1998, responsibility for the supervision of banks moved from the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority. The legislative framework for the regulation of banks was subsequently reformed under the Financial Services and Markets Act; this came into effect on 1 December 2001.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to produce an Inland Revenue leaflet covering all the Inland Revenue help available for those with special needs. [148385]

The Inland Revenue are researching the most appropriate methods, including leaflets, of effectively publicising the help available to those with special needs and have been working closely with the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met (a) Sir Eddie George and (b) Mr. Brian Quinn. [149497]

Ministers and civil servants have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development and analysis. As with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists, as appropriate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for the National Savings Ordinary Account as they effect (a) existing and (b) potential new account holders. [149483]

National Savings and Investments will shortly launch a new savings account in response to changing customer needs. The new account will replace the Ordinary Account, which was introduced in 1861 and has not kept pace with changes in the savings market. The Ordinary Account is expensive to run and therefore only offers modest returns to savers.The new account has been designed to meet these changing customer needs and will be straightforward and simple to operate, offering customers greater flexibility in the way they manage their savings. They will be able to make deposits at post offices, by telephone and by post and they will be given an account card which will allow cash withdrawals at post offices or ATMs in the LINK network. This means the new savings account will be cheaper to run compared to the Ordinary Account and the savings will be passed onto the customer in the form of better interest rates.The new savings account will be available on 29 January 2004 and new Ordinary Accounts will not be available after 28 January 2004. In order to give existing Ordinary Account customers plenty of time to consider what to do with their savings, they will be able to continue using their account in the normal way until 31 July 2004. After that date, no further deposits can be made and any withdrawal will have to be for the full balance to close the account. In the meantime, National Savings and Investments will be writing to Ordinary Account customers explaining their options, including information about the new account and a simple transfer form for those wishing to transfer their savings into the new account.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last conducted a needs-based review of public expenditure levels in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [149454]

Public expenditure of UK Government Departments has been reviewed in each spending review. The funding for the Devolved Administrations has been determined using the Barnett formula. Details were published in the Statement of Funding Policy in July 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions there were for evading duty on spirits in the most recent year for which figures are available. [147324]

[holding answer 12 January 2004]:: In 2002–03, there were 24 prosecutions for evading duty on spirits. Of these, 21 were successful and three were unsuccessful.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people employed in his Department have claimed statutory sick pay for (a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997. [148622]

The information is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.The Treasury, Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise pay full pay for six months and a further six months at half pay for staff who are absent due to sickness. SSP is paid only when employees are not receiving full pay. SSP is paid for up to 28 weeks.There are very few payments of SSP made due to the sick absence scheme we operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the implications for human health of travelling in passenger aircraft at altitudes in excess of 30,000 feet. [148588]

Although scheduled passenger aircraft routinely fly at altitudes of between 30,000 and 37,000 feet, the cabin is pressurised to the equivalent of between 6,000 and 8,000 feet to compensate for the reduction in atmospheric pressure. The Government are actively examining the effects of air travel on the health of passengers, notably in relation to the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and cabin air quality. In conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Radiological Protection Board, the Department has also issued advice on limiting airline crew's exposure to cosmic radiation in accordance with Article 42 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) injuries and (b) fatalities there were caused by accidents involving personal transfer baskets used in British waters in each year since 1997. [148501]

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch of DfT has no record of injuries caused by accidents involving transfer baskets used in British waters since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what advice he received from the National Air Traffic Service on the feasibility of the proposals contained in the White Paper on "The Future of Air Transport" (a) prior to publication of the White Paper and (b) subsequently; [149044](2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the proposals in the White Paper on "The Future of Air Transport" on the design of UK airspace; [149047](3) what discussions his Department has held with the National Air Traffic Service on the impact of increased airport capacity at

The studies that preceded "The Future of Air Transport" included a high-level assessment of airspace issues by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the body responsible for the planning and regulation of UK airspace, and National Air Traffic Services (NATS). This work concluded that the necessary airspace capacity could, in broad terms, be provided safely through the redesign of airspace and the introduction of enhanced air traffic techniques and systems. Copies of the relevant report have been placed in the House Libraries. Both organisations also responded to the consultation that preceded the White Paper. In their response, NATS supported the need for new runways in the South East and expressed a preference for development at existing airports.Paragraphs 12.25-12.27 of "The Future of Air Transport" set out the Government's expectation that the CAA will make early progress in bringing forward a programme of work, involving other key bodies including NATS, for the redesign of airspace to accommodate forecast growth in air traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much government grant per capita was allocated for concessionary fares on public transport in 2003–04 in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) North Yorkshire. [149386]

Government provision for existing concessionary travel schemes is included in the general grant for local authorities. This is distributed using formula spending shares and it is not possible to provide an allocation for each authority. It is for local authorities to decide their spending priorities in the light of their responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. Spend on a per capita basis in 2002–03 by each of the three authorities on concessionary fare reimbursement was approximately as follows:

West Yorkshire—£11.45 per head

South Yorkshire—£9.85 per head

North Yorkshire (on an aggregate of its seven district councils) —£2.33 per head.

In North Yorkshire the concessionary fare schemes were funded by district councils, not the county.

West Yorkshire PTE's concessionary fares scheme provides for a flat fare on buses and rail services for older and disabled people. Schoolchildren and students can also travel at a reduced fare. South Yorkshire PTE's scheme provides for flat fares on local bus, tram and train services for older and disabled people, schoolchildren and students. In North Yorkshire the seven district councils all provide a half fare scheme on bus services for older and disabled people only, with some providing concessionary travel on other modes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the introduction of compulsory hazard perception tests for existing approved driving instructors; and if he will make a statement. [145334]

We have received representations from a wide variety of sources since our decision to add moving-image Hazard Perception Testing (HPT) to the supervision of existing Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) was announced in December.HPT has been part of the qualification process for learner drivers, car, lorry and bus drivers, motorcyclists and prospective ADIs since November 2002. Our announcement followed consultation exercises in December 2001 on HPT for learner drivers and riders and prospective ADIs, and in April 2003 for existing ADIs. On both occasions, instructor interests mainly favoured introduction for drivers and prospective ADIs, but not for existing ADIs. Other interests, such as road safety bodies and the police, mainly favoured the proposals, including for existing ADIs.The ADI registration scheme already requires instructors to have their competence periodically re-assessed. We now plan to use modern technology to assess standards objectively against the same benchmark—regardless of when ADIs were registered. This should ensure that ADIs are familiar with the nature of the tests faced by trainees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of introduction of insurance discs. [148221]

The Government have commissioned an independent review, by Professor David Greenaway, of the UK motor insurance system with a particular focus on uninsured driving. The review will include an assessment of the merits of the introduction of insurance discs. Professor David Greenaway is expected to report in April and we will study carefully his recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money will be spent on the M6 (a) maintenance and (b) upgrading in (i) Lancashire, (ii) Cheshire and (iii) Staffordshire in each of the next five years; and how many miles of the M6 motorway will be affected in each of the counties. [148222]

Maintenance programmes are established on an annual basis, based upon an assessment of network condition and availability of funds.Subject to the availability of funds, the Highways Agency plans to invest in a Motorway Incident Detection Automatic Signalling System (MIDAS), which includes upgrading the current Variable Message Signs, on the Lancashire section of the M6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many uniformed patrols will be set up by the Highways Agency under the Traffic Management Bill; what their annual cost will be; and how many new posts will be created. [145825]

[holding answer 7 January 2004]: The number of uniformed patrols (a liveried vehicle and uniformed Traffic Officers) will depend on day-to-day operational requirements and is currently envisaged to be about 100 when fully phased in on motorways. The annual cost is about £40 million. It is currently envisaged that the number of new posts created will be about 1,200 Traffic Officers.The Highways Agency and Association of Chief Police Officers "Roles and Responsibilities Report" identified plans that could free up the equivalent of about 540 full-time equivalent police officers. Based on figures from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary of 6,540 designated roads police in 2001–02, the report estimated that a transfer of non-core police activities to the Highways Agency enabled approximately 8½ per cent. of police time to work on other key tasks. Resources will be freed up over a period of about three years as Highways Agency Traffic Officers are phased in across all motorways and some key trunk roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment there was in transport in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last five years. [148220]

Lancashire has received:

Year	£ million>
2000–01	10.896
2001–02	27.83
2002–03	29.704
2003–04	25.388
2004–05	29.202

The figure requested for Chorley cannot be disaggregated from the Lancashire totals identified above. However Chorley has benefited considerably from these monies; an example of which is the £2.873 million Chorley Bus Interchange completed in March 2003, which has brought attractive and safe conditions to bus travel in Chorley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities in the West Midlands made bids in the Urban Bus Challenge competition. [149430]

The following local authorities in the West Midlands made bids in the 2003 Urban Bus Challenge competition.

Authority	Number of bids
Staffordshire County Council	1
Stoke-on-Trent Council	2
Telford and Wrekin Council	1
Warwickshire County Council	2
West Midlands PTA	7
Worcestershire County Council	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength against requirement is of each regiment of the British Army. [147960]

The information is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details on the current trained Regular Army manning state by Arms and Service as at 1 December 2003 are shown in the table.

Arms/Service	Requirement	Strength
Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps	5,975	5,885
Royal Artillery	8,330	7,815
Royal Engineers	9,160	8,790
Royal Signals	8,635	8,580
Infantry	26,185	25,830
Army Air Corps	2,105	1,820
Royal Army Chaplains Department	165	145
Royal Logistics Corps	16,205	15,200
Royal Army Medical Corps	2,920	2,645
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	10,370	9,635
Adjutant General Corps (Provost)	2,075	2,055
AGC (Stall Personnel Support)	4,645	4,615
AGC (Education and Training Corps)	315	320
AGC (Army Legal Service)	95	90
Royal Army Veterinary Corps	190	175
Small Arms School Corps	145	150
Royal Army Dental Corps	420	405
Intelligence Corps	1,410	1,335
Army Physical Training Corps	455	425
General List	—	—
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps	1,035	800
Corps of Army Musicians	1,155	1,025
— = zero or rounded to zero.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy bases he proposes to close. [148459]

The MOD keeps the size and location of its bases under constant review. In the estate strategy, "In Trust and On Trust" the Department set out its intention to define its mainland Great Britain sites as core' or 'non-core'. Initial classification work was conducted last year. Building on this the Department is now undertaking further work to identify where estate rationalisation may be possible. This work is consistent with the Department's contribution to the Government's Independent Review of Public Sector Rationalisation—the Lyons review. Any specific proposals arising from these studies will be subjected to full consultation in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compulsory call-out notices have been issued in each of the last three years; and how many individuals were mobilised in each of those years. [R] [147136]

In 2003, over 13,500 call-out notices were issued. However, it should be noted that some individuals received more than one call-out notice to report for a particular operation. The number of call-out notices issued in 2001 and 2002 is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The number of reservists who were mobilised in the last three years is as follows:

	Number
2001	920
2002	1,720
2003	9,550

These figures include Volunteer Reserves, Regular Reserves and Sponsored Reserves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what shortcomings were identified in the Oscar strategic communications system procured for use during Operation TELIC; and how much was spent on the system. [147276]

The Operations and Strategic Communications Architecture (OSCA) system was procured at short notice to enhance our strategic communications capability. The lack of scope to engineer the solution full and the requirement to integrate OSCA into the existing UK military communications infrastructure caused some difficulties. These difficulties did not significantly affect the operational outcome.Some £13 million was spent on acquiring the hardware and costs of some £20 million have been incurred in running the system up to December 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposed increase in death-in-service benefit from one and a half to four times salary will be payable to Service personnel who opt to remain within the existing Armed Forces Pension Scheme. [148063]

No, but those who wish to have that benefit will be able to transfer to the new scheme, which is entirely a matter of choice for each individual member of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dog patrols were made on (a) Army bases and (b) RAF stations in the United Kingdom on (i) 1 January 1997 and (ii) 1 January 2003. [148397]

The information is not recorded as there is no requirement to do so. Security at MOD establishments is kept under constant review and dog patrol duties, which form an important element of security procedures at MOD establishments, are no exception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British servicemen and women were awarded the Gulf Campaign Medal for Operation Desert Storm in 1990–91, broken down by armed service. [148320]

Operation Desert Storm was the name given to the American operations during the Gulf War of 1990–91. The term used to describe the British operations was Operation Granby. The Gulf Medal 1990–91 was either awarded on its own, or together with one of two clasps which were attached to the medal ribbon and acknowledged specific periods of operational service. The details were published in Command Paper 1627 which the then Prime Minister presented to Parliament by Command of Her Majesty The Queen, in August 1991. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.As far as can ascertained from records held by the Ministry of Defence's four single service medal offices, a total of 59,687 medals with and without clasps were issued to Service personnel, including those people recalled to the Armed Forces from the Reserves for service during the conflict. The distribution of these medals can be broken down as follows:

Service	Medal only	Medal with clasp 2 August 1990	Medal with clasp 16 January— 28 February 1991	Total
Royal Navy	2.409	Nil	3,942	6,351
Royal Marines	130	Nil	407	537
Army	4.093	46	34.692	38,831
Royal Air Force	5,673	20	8,275	13,968
Total	12,305	66	47,316	59,687

In addition, medals with and without clasps, were awarded to members of various civilian organisations and to foreign nationals who served with British Forces in the Middle East.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf War veterans of 1990 were still serving in the armed forces in 2003. [148269]

Approximately 16,600 of the 53,464 United Kingdom armed forces personnel who served in the Gulf conflict of 1990–91 were still in Service on 1 January 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the extra-territorial applicability of the European Convention on Human Rights in territories under the military occupation of United Kingdom forces. [141685]

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is since September 2002 of the deployment of United Kingdom forces in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [148298]

Outturn information for 2002–03 on the cost of operations in Iraq which have been subject to National Audit Office (NAO) audit, have been published as part of the Department's Annual Report and Accounts. Operating Costs for 2002–03 for operations in Iraq total £629.531 million. Expenditure on capital equipment amounts to £217.680 million. The grand total is, therefore, £847.211 million.For 2003–04, funding voted at Winter Supplementary Estimates amounted to £1.2 billion and covered the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The Ministry of Defence will seek a further £300 million at Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover primarily the cost of the Recuperation of the Department's operational capability. Thus, the total sought in 2003–04 will be £1.5 billion.It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, what the latest total is of deaths in British custody; what the status of investigations into them is; and if he will make a statement. [148435]

[holding answer on 19 January 2004]:: There have been a total of 6 deaths of Iraqis in UK custody in Iraq. All are, or have been, the subject of investigations by the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch. The investigation into the death of Radhi Nama concluded that he died of natural causes. The other five investigations are continuing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further until they are complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 30W, on Iraq, how many of the armoured Land Rovers operating in Iraq have been used in field operations. [148550]

All of them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2003, Official Report, column 30W, on Iraq, how many of the Gazelle and Puma helicopters operating in Iraq have been used in field operations. [148585]

All of them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to compensate soldiers who were subject to manning control where it is proved that the wrong procedures were applied to their discharge; [147890](2) what plans he has

There is no evidence to suggest that incorrect procedures have been applied to soldiers who have been discharged as a result of manning control, and the issue of compensation has therefore not arisen. Should any such cases come to light, the onus would be on the individual to make a claim against the Ministry of Defence. Anyone believing they have been wrongly discharged from the Army is entitled to redress of complaint which, if successful, could lead to reinstatement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which United Kingdom troops are stationed, giving numbers in each case. [147400]

Approximate numbers of British troops stationed permanently overseas are:

	Number
Germany	22,900
Cyprus	2,800
Falkland Islands	1,200
Brunei	1,100
Gibraltar	780
Canada	210
Diego Garcia	40
Belize	30
Kenya	10

In addition, some 650 Service personnel are posted overseas on representational duties in British Embassies and High Commissions, or on Loan or Secondment in support of the Government's Defence Diplomacy objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 in ensuring that (a) reservists' jobs are safeguarded, (b) adequate compensation is payable when they are not, (c) the procedure to be followed is as simple as possible and (d) employers do not misuse economic restructuring to minimise compensation. [146183]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 454W.However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 11 December 2003 that the Ministry of Defence will be examining the effectiveness of the 1985 Act as part of the White Paper process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists serve as (a) full-time reservists with full commitment contracts, (b) full-time reservists with limited commitment contracts, (c) full-time reservists with home commitment contracts and (d) volunteer reservists. [148668]

I refer the hon. Member to Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 3:UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements, and UK Defence Statistics (UKDS) 2003. TSP 3 shows strength figures of full-time reservists broken down by commitment type. Table 2.13 of UKDS shows the strength of the Volunteer reserves as at 1 April each year.These are both available in the House of Commons Library; TSP 3 and UKDS are updated on a monthly and yearly basis, respectively. TSP 3 for 1 November 2003 was published on 10 December 2003. The 1 December 2003 issue is due for publication shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department gives to a reservist prevented from returning to his previous employment; and if he will make a statement. [146180]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 454W. The Ministry of Defence's Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) campaign team provides a helpline and a website which gives additional information and advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to implement recommendation 8.6 of the Quinquennial Review of Service Children Education published in May 2003. [147139]

Although the Quinquennial Review Report into the Service Children's Education Agency was dated May 2003, the review process was not completed until 2 December 2003, at which point the outcome was reported to the House. No steps have therefore yet been taken to implement recommendation 8.6, but work on this is now in progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the display of the Union Flag on Army recruitment and careers literature in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [149092]

All Army recruitment literature is produced for use throughout the United Kingdom, and as such, bears images of the Union Flag. However, local press advertising in Northern Ireland uses the Army crossed sword/crown logo instead of the Union Flag but television advertising retains the use of the Flag.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's policy is on the display of the Union Flag (a) at its bases in Northern Ireland, (b) at Palace Barracks in Holywood, County Down and (c) within the recruitment office at Palace Barracks. [149093]

The Army's policy on the flying of the Union Flag within Northern Ireland is that it should be flown at flag stations designated in Queen's Regulations or those authorised by the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland. One of the flag stations designated in Queen's Regulations is Palace Barracks, Holywood. The Armed Forces Careers Office within Palace Barracks, as a recruitment office for all three Services, flies the three Service Flags outside their office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement; [146860](2) what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet

Sir Michael Lyon's Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation was established by the Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister to examine the scope for relocating public sector activity, to improve the delivery and efficiency of public services and to benefit regional economies.Sir Michael's review will be informed by research from King Sturge on suitable alternative locations, and Experian Business Strategies on lessons from previous relocations, and the economic impact of relocation. Summaries of this research will be available shortly on the Treasury website.Sir Michael's final report will be published in March 2004 and we will develop relocation proposals in light of his findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147299]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 12 January 2004, Official Report, columns 516-17W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the value of fee repayments by graduates arising from his proposals for variable top-up fees, in each year from 2008 to 2020. [149387]

The value of fee repayments will depend on the number of students that decide to defer payment of their fees and take out a fee loan; on the levels of fees that institutions decide to charge; and on the earnings of the graduate population overtime. It is not possible to predict these numbers with certainty and therefore it would not be meaningful to estimate the value of fee repayments year-by-year, given the uncertainties above.Estimates of the cost of fee loans using a variety of different scenarios are contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list occasions on which his Department has conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if he will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from his Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source. [146940]

[holding answer 12 January 2004]:: Since 1997 my department has investigated 23 suspected leaks.In line with exemptions 1(a) and 7(b) set out in Part II of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on the outcome of such inquiries in order to safeguard security and investigative arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what progress is being made on the production of specialised resources for the teaching of modern languages in primary schools; [148377](2) what percentage of teaching time he aims to allocate to foreign languages in primary schools by 2010; [148378](3) if he will make a statement on the progress since November 2002 of Government plans to upgrade foreign languages in primary schools. [148379]

There has been considerable progress on the development of language learning in primary schools since November 2002, underpinned by the launch in December 2002 of the Department's National Languages Strategy for England. Implementation of the Strategy is being driven by Dr. Lid King, the National Director for Languages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his statement of 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 418, on higher education (student support), whether the student loan repayment to be written off after 25 years applies to all money owed to the Student Loans Company. [148267]

[holding answer 19 January 2004]:: Under the student support proposals announced by my right hon. Friend on 8 January, the Government intend to write-off outstanding student loan balances 25 years after graduates enter liability to repay their loans, which is from the April after graduation. This policy will apply to those entering HE from 2006 and graduating in 2009 and cover both maintenance and fee loans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the age limit is on eligibility for student loans; and how he proposes to change that in the event of a repayment period capped at 25 years. [149636]

The age limit is 50 for eligible students meeting the residence requirements. Those aged 50 to 54 at the start of their course can also apply for a student loan provided that they plan to return to work after finishing their course. We have no plans to change the age limits.We already cancel loans when a borrower reaches the age of 65. We also intend to put a 25 year cap on the loan repayment period, so that outstanding loan amounts are written off after 25 years (or age 65, whichever is the earlier).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many additional student places will be made available in higher education in (a) 2006 and (b) each year to 2020 under (i) the present arrangements and (ii) his proposals on top-up fees. [148710]

The planned number of student places is set during spending reviews in the light of the Government's target of increasing participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 by the end of the decade. Planned student numbers for 2005–06 to 2007–08 will be set as part of the current spending review, which will conclude next summer. However, the additional funds that we estimate will be raised by higher education institutions from charging variable fees are equivalent to the resources that would be required for around 135,000 students.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of staff employed within the Office 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. [145769]

The following Table shows the number and percentage of staff in departments and agencies aged 55 and over at 1 April 2003. The figures are based on the headcount of permanent civil servants.