To ask the Prime Minister, when he next plans to use East Midlands Airport on official business. [151111]

I have no current plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reports of evidence of overseas bribery or suspected bribery by a UK company have been passed to the Inland Revenue's Special Compliance Officer by Inland Revenue staff since November 1997; and how many of these reports were passed on by Inland Revenue to the (a) prosecution and (b) law enforcement agencies. [151442]

Section 19 of the Anti-Terrorism (Crime and Security) Act 2001 provides a gateway for the Revenue to pass information about a possible criminal offence of bribery to other agencies where the evidence warrants such a disclosure. No such gateway existed before.The Inland Revenue does not keep central records of cases referred to other agencies, but does not believe that the section 19 gateway has been used to date to refer a case of suspected bribery.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of taxing currency speculation. [150783]

The Government remain to be convinced that a tax on currency speculation would be particularly effective in stabilising international capital flows. Indeed, a report by the European Commission—"Responses to the Challenges of Globalisation", February 2002—concludes that a currency transaction tax may actually increase volatility, since trading volumes would be likely to fall significantly following its introduction.There are also a number of practical issues concerning the coverage and enforcement of a currency speculation tax that would need to be resolved before, as is often suggested, it could become a feasible source of development finance. In particular, the Government are concerned that it would be almost impossible to achieve global coverage for such a tax, creating huge scope for evasion. Even if we could secure agreement among the G7, without global application speculative foreign exchange transactions would gravitate to those jurisdictions which did not enforce the tax. This would make poorly regulated offshore financial centres more attractive to speculators, increasing the threat of instability in the financial system.The Government are open to exploring the full range of options for raising finance for development and the Chancellor has proposed the International Finance Facility, a new mechanism which would raise significant additional resources. The Facility would be built on developed countries' long-term commitments to increased aid flows and, on this basis, would leverage additional resources from international capital markets. The Facility would seek to double aid from US․ 50 billion a year today to ․100 billion a year in the years up to 2015—the sum needed to meet the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) ivory and (b) ivory products seized by HM Customs and Excise in each of the last five years. [150961]

Customs has made the following seizures of ivory and ivory products in each of the last five years.

		Other items containing ivory
	Ivory tusks
Calendar year	Number of seizures	Number of items seized	Number of Seizures	Number of items seized	Total number of seizures
2003	7	22	23	3324	30
2002	4	5	18	74	22
2001	6	8	27	649	33
2000	6	19	19	84	25
1999	7	12	11	13	18
Total	30	66	98	4,144	128

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff will be employed in each of the two new tax credit contact centres; where they will be located; and when they will become operational. [147655]

[holding answer 13 January 2004]: The two new Tax Credit Contact Centres—in Newcastle upon Tyne and Bathgate (West Lothian)—will each employ the equivalent of 500 new full time staff dedicated to answering tax credits calls. The Bathgate Contact Centre will, in addition, house the equivalent of a further 300 existing full time staff. The tax credits staff will be taking calls in time to support the continued delivery of tax credits from April 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the habitual residence test in regard to child and working tax credits will apply to nationals of the EU accession states if they come to live in the United Kingdom. [151070]

No, the habitual residence test does not apply to tax credits just as it has never applied to Child Benefit. However, to qualify for tax credits, a person must be both present and ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times staff at the Inland Revenue have denied tax deductibility on payments, under section 577A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, on the basis that the payment was (a) a suspected bribe and (b) business entertainment on an overseas contract, since November 1997. [151441]

Section 577A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 denies, for the purpose of computing business profits, a deduction on expenditure incurred on any payment, the making of which constitutes an offence in the UK, or would do so if the payment were made in the UK. The onus is upon the taxpayer not to claim a deduction on any such expenditure. The Inland Revenue does not keep central records of expenditure disallowed from deduction by its inspectors under this provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the introduction of the new Advanced Driving Instructor part 1 examination; and what skills the examination will assess which are not covered by existing tests. [150015]

The driving instructor registration scheme involves periodic re-assessment of competence. We intend to use modern technology to assess instructor standards in an effective and efficient manner, as part of their supervision arrangements.The new computer-based assessment will comprise a multiple-choice question test of knowledge and understanding of driving theory and instruction, plus a moving-image hazard perception test. The knowledge and understanding test draws on a bank of over 900 questions and is more comprehensive than when most instructors qualified.Hazard perception testing has been a key part of the qualification process for learner car drivers, lorry drivers, bus drivers, motor cyclists, potential instructors and driving examiners since November 2002. Extending it to driving instructors who have not been assessed in this key skill will help their standards maintenance and professionalism and result in a driving instructor profession better placed to deliver high-quality instruction.We want to ensure that when the public, often young people, buy driving lessons they can have confidence that the instructor they choose will have kept up to date with developments in the learning-to-drive syllabus and be familiar with how the hazard perception test works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the findings of the Strategic Rail Authority's latest study on the Central Railway proposal; and if he will make a statement. [151250]

[holding answer 27 January 2004]: We have no plans to do so at present given the commercial sensitivity

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the number of employees in his Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type. [148993]

Employees in the Department for Transport, who have informed the Department that they have a disability, are recorded in the following table. The figures given are at April 2003.

Type of disability	Count
Hearing	13
Learning difficulties	1—
Mental illness	l—
Mobility impairment	12
Physical co-ordination difficulties	18
Visual	10
Unspecified2	8
Total	62
1 Indicates that the number is less than 5.
2 Where a person has informed the Department that they are disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act definition but chosen not to inform the Department about the nature of their impairment/s.

While employees are encouraged to inform the Department that they have a disability, especially where an adjustment may better enable them to work to the best of their ability, they are not required to do so. It is likely that the numbers of disabled employees is actually higher. The Department is actively involved in the Cabinet Office run Disability Working Group. The group seeks to improve information on disabled civil servants both by, examining why employees are reluctant to pass on information on their impairments and, the approaches used to collect information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles used by the coastguard service were built in (a) the UK, (b) the EU and (c) outside the EU, broken down by make of car. [151199]

The number of vehicles used by the HM Coastguard service is listed in the following table:

Place	Total	Broken down by make of car
UK	59	Land Rover (29)
		Vauxhall Astra Estate (20)
		Ford Escort Estate (7)
		Leyland Daf (3)
EU	161	Ford Focus Estates (90)
		Nissan Terrano (67)
		Nissan Patrol (3)
		Renault Espace (1)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether European nationals who are licensed to drive in other EU member states using bioptics are allowed to drive using bioptics in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [151309]

One of the principal themes of the second EC Directive on driving licences (Directive 91/ 439/EEC) is the mutual recognition of licences, and all entitlements gained, between member states. Drivers from other member states who become resident in the UK, however, are subject to UK legislation and procedures. Information provided to such drivers informs them of the requirement to notify the Secretary of State of any medical conditions, including visual defects, that may affect fitness to drive. A driver who notified a visual defect or condition and was found to be unable to meet the required standards in relation to vision would not be licensed to drive in the UK despite the use of bioptic lenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of whether the European Directive on Driver Licensing allows the use of bioptics for driving; and if he will make a statement; [151310](2) what policy has been formulated by the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Visual Disorders regarding the use of bioptics for driving; and if he will make a statement. [151311]

Any assessment as to the degree to which the use of bioptic lenses for driving complies with the second EC Directive on driving licences (Directive 91/439/EEC) requires the advice of my Department's Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Vision and Driving.The Medical Advisory Panel advises on, rather than formulates, policy in relation to vision and driving. It has considered the issue of bioptic lenses and driving but feels that it is important to gain an understanding of other European member states' views and experience of this aid to vision before definitive advice can be given. I expect to receive the panel's advice, therefore, when the expert medical working group recently established by the EC Committee on the Driving Licence has considered the issue and the results of its discussions are known. The working group is expected to meet three or four times during 2004 and to report its results in approximately 18 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many attempts approved driving instructors will be permitted to pass the test; whether ADIs will be removed from the register if they fail the test; when the Government intend to bring in these changes; and if he will make a statement. [149828]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: Driving instructors will not be limited in the number of attempts they are allowed to pass the computer-based assessment we are adding to their supervision arrangements. Only if an instructor was unable to pass the assessment at the end of a two-year period would action be taken to remove the person from the register.We intend to introduce the assessment this autumn. It will comprise a multiple-choice question test of knowledge and understanding of driving theory and instruction, plus a moving-image hazard perception test. The knowledge test draws on a bank of over 900 questions and is more comprehensive than when most instructors qualifiedHazard perception testing has been a key part of the qualification process for learner car drivers, lorry drivers, bus drivers, motor cyclists, potential instructors and driving examiners since November 2002. Extending it to driving instructors who have not been assessed in this key skill will help their standards maintenance and professionalism and result in a driving instructor profession better placed to deliver high-quality instruction.We want to ensure that when the public, often young people, buy driving lessons they can have confidence that the instructor they choose will have kept up to date with developments in the learning-to-drive syllabus and be familiar with how the hazard perception test works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he was notified that East Midlands airport was planning to change its name. [151060]

The Department have received no formal notification from Manchester Airports Group, the owner of East Midlands airport, about the change of name. There is no requirement to notify the Department as it is a commercial decision for the airport operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households which will be subjected to (a) a noise level of (i) 63dBa Leq or more and (ii) 69dBa Leq or more and (b) an increase in noise level of 3dBa Leq or more directly as a result of the increased use of the existing runway at Edinburgh airport as outlined in the recent White Paper on Aviation. [150974]

This information is set out in the Scottish Consultation Document and supporting technical reports. These estimate the number of people who would be affected by different levels of noise under a range of runway options at Edinburgh airport including maximum use of the existing main runway, greater use of the existing crosswind runway and development of a new close parallel runway. Our analysis suggests that by 2030, under the maximum use option, and assuming a 8dBA technology improvement, there would be an increase of 300 people affected within the 63 dBA 16 hour Leq contour with no increase at the 69dBA 16 hour Leq contour. The equivalent figures with increased use of the crosswind runway are 800 and 200 respectively.The numbers of houses within these contours in the maximum use case is estimated to be 400 at 63 dBA and 100 at 69 dBA. Under the crosswind option the equivalent figures are 600 and 100 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what audit mechanisms are in place to determine whether all Information Technology hardware and software products are being properly utilised in his Department. [151057]

The Department maintains a list of approved hardware and software products and specific approval is required for any purchase not on that list. Microsoft desktop and server software is procured through Office of Government Commerce licensing arrangements. These licences are managed using software tools at the Microsoft licensing site. Other key software is licensed under a corporate agreement with Novell and is audited annually by them. The Department also utilises asset tracking and discovery software to monitor what other hardware and software is being used on the Department's network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tonnes of (a) 1,3-butadiene, (b) benzene, (c) particulates and (d) sulphur dioxide emissions he estimates have been saved as a result of the liquid petroleum gas duty rebate. [151037]

It is not possible to give a precise estimate. Liquefied petroleum gas is a clean fuel which results in very low emissions of a number of key air pollutants. It can have particular benefits, for example, when it is used as a substitute for diesel fuel in polluted urban areas. The nature and scale of the emissions savings, however, will depend on a number of factors, including the type of vehicle and fuel which is being replaced by LPG, and how and where it is being driven.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether funds retained by police authorities from fines imposed for exceeding speed limits may be used to set up mobile CCTV systems. [150019]

They cannot be used for this purpose. All fines resulting from speeding offences are paid to the courts. Funds returned to the safety camera partnerships (all these include the police) under the cost recovery scheme may only be used to cover the cost of purchasing, placing and operating speed and traffic light enforcement (safety) cameras.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles were recovered from motorways in the last year for which figures are available by (a) a private breakdown recovery service and (b) a contractor engaged by the police. [151249]

[holding answer 27 January 2004]: This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accident (a) injuries and (b) fatalities there were in each of the past 10 years, broken down by (i) children and (ii) adults. [150647]

The information requested is shown in the following table. These statistics have been published in the annual publications "Road Accidents Great Britain" (1993 to 2001) and "Road Casualties Great Britain" (2002), copies of which are in the Library.

Casualties from road accidents by severity and age: 1993–2002
Casualties
	Fatal			Injuries
	Child	Adult	Age missing	Child	Adult	Age missing
1993	306	3,493	15	42,287	254,394	5,640
1994	299	3,320	31	44,853	260,512	6,344
1995	270	3,330	21	43,519	257,343	6,204
1996	270	3,304	24	44,567	266,682	5,731
1997	255	3,344	0	44,291	274,312	5,601
1998	206	3,213	2	43,239	272,708	5,844
1999	221	3,183	19	41,830	267,861	7,196
2000	191	3,211	7	39,524	269,511	7,839
2001	219	3,199	32	38,050	263,729	8,080
2002	179	3,221	31	34,510	257,015	7,649

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government strategy for decreasing the noise disturbances arising from main roads in residential areas, with particular reference to relevant measures in the Traffic Management Bill. [148369]

The Government recognise that traffic noise from main roads can be a significant nuisance, particularly where they run close to or through local communities. The Government are committed to reducing such noise and our strategy is to set vehicle construction standards that reduce noise at source wherever feasible and desirable on safety grounds. We also encourage the mitigation of noise with insulation, barriers, traffic management measures and low noise surfaces. The implementation of mitigation measures on the trunk road and motorway network, for which the Highways Agency is responsible, concentrates first on the most pressing locations. It is doing this by a variety of means, most importantly through a programme of re-surfacing all concrete roads with quieter materials by 31 March 2011 and re-surfacing blacktop roads with quieter materials as and when they require maintenance. In addition, the Government provides funds to local authorities to maintain local roads, though how much they spend and what they spend it on is their choice.The primary aim of the Traffic Management Bill is to improve the smooth flow of traffic but there are a number of reasons for believing that it will also help with noise problems. For example, better management of traffic incidents and street works will reduce the disruption caused to traffic and the noise created by slow-moving heavy traffic. It will also minimise the incentive for motorists to divert along adjacent residential roads.The Government are also encouraging a substantial growth in investment in public transport. This will help reduce traffic noise by providing the public with a greater choice over how they travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the royal train has been used in each of the last three years, broken down by journey. [151200]

The royal train plays an important role in enabling members of the royal family to carry out their extensive official engagements throughout the UK. It is principally used for overnight travel and provides secure accommodation and secure mobile office facilities. In 2002–03, the train was used for 19 journeys; in 2001–02, for 15 journeys and 17 journeys in 2000–01. Full details of these journeys are provided in the appendices to the Annual Reports on the Grant-in-aid for Royal Travel by Air and Rail. Copies of these reports, which are prepared annually, are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when determining where to site a speed camera, how far from the proposed site of a camera an accident can have occurred for it to justify that siting. [147154]

The distance from the proposed site within which accidents are counted takes account of the circumstances of each site, and may be between 400 and 1,500 metres, for fixed speed cameras.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the roles and duties that the Traffic Management Bill will accord to traffic managers and local traffic authorities to (a) respond to and (b) prevent traffic gridlock. [148371]

The Traffic Management Bill will require local authorities to appoint a Traffic Manager responsible for keeping traffic moving in their area. Neighbouring authorities will also have to work together to ensure traffic flows across the network as a wholeLocal authorities will need not only to manage existing problems but also to plan ahead, taking account of events they know about and making contingency arrangements for unforeseen incidents. They will have to do this in a way that does not compromise their other responsibilities such as for improving road safety.The Bill will give authorities a number of additional powers to meet their new responsibilities. For example, they will be helped to deal with congestion caused by poorly planned and lengthy street works by greater control over when and where utility companies carry out street works. These powers will include the ability to specify what day of the week works can be carried out and at what times. They will be able to prevent certain roads from being dug up repeatedly by banning works on that road until a specified date. Any utility company wanting to carry out street works could be required to apply for a permit to do so. Utility companies failing to repair a road properly will face fines of up to £5,000.Local authorities will also be given the ability to ensure that a number of moving traffic contraventions are enforced. This will include, for example, box junction and no right turn rules. These powers already exist in London. The Bill will extend them to cover the rest of England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact the Traffic Management Bill will have on motorcyclists; and if he will make a statement. [150142]

The Traffic Management Bill will give national and local highway authorities a number of additional powers and responsibilities to tackle congestion for the benefit of all road users. Authorities will be better able to manage their roads and the traffic using them. Motorcyclists, like other road users, will benefit from the reduced congestion and disruption. In particular, on local roads where much motorcycling takes place, local authorities will have a new network management duty aimed at keeping traffic moving in their area. Neighbouring authorities will also have to work together to ensure traffic flows effectively across the network as a whole. Again, motorcyclists will benefit from the better operation of the road network, along with other road users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is meant by serious traffic disruption in Part 4 of the Traffic Management Bill. [150201]

Section 56 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 allows a street authority to direct an undertaker as to the times at which street works can be carried out, where they might otherwise cause serious disruption to traffic. Clause 42 of the Traffic Management Bill makes clear that this power includes the ability to direct not only the times but also the days on which works may or may not be carried out.Whether or not there is likely to be serious disruption to traffic in the case of a particular proposed works must be determined by a street authority on the facts of the case. Guidance on the use of the current power is set out in the Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters, and we intend revising this guidance as part of producing regulations under the Bill. Ultimately, however, the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the streetwork provisions in the Traffic Management Bill on urban regeneration. [150202]

The aim of the street works provisions in the Traffic Management Bill are twofold. Firstly to reduce the disruption that these works cause to road users, businesses and local residents and secondly to ensure that works are carried out to a high standard and to minimise the negative impact they can have on the environment and the appearance of streets. While each of these is an issue for both urban and rural areas, we believe that minimising the negative effect of these works is particularly important in helping to regenerate our cities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the Traffic Management Bill on utilities infrastructure investment programmes, with particular reference to (a) water and gas mains replacement and (b) electricity cable renewal and upgrading. [150203]

The detail of those parts of the Traffic Management Bill which relate directly to utility works will be set out in regulations. We will be consulting extensively with utilities and utility regulators as part of drawing up these regulations, so that the revised legislative regime takes proper account of their investment programmes and does not put any unnecessary obstacles in the way of their carrying out these necessary works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to consult Ofgem on the additional costs envisaged from the introduction of permit schemes, as set out in the Traffic Management Bill. [150204]

Ofgem, together with Ofwat and Ofcom, are represented on the legislative working group set up by my Department which considered what provision should be included in the Bill, and which will continue to meet to consider the details of the secondary legislation which will underpin it. This will include

Spot checks carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate (VOSA) between 1999–-2000 and 2002–03 in Enforcement Area 15 (Metropolitan Area)
	Number of vehicles checked
Vehicle category	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
HGV motor vehicles1	1,580	1,769	1,435	3,011
HGV trailers	284	337	170	358
HGV emissions	409	413	356	345
PSV vehicles1	480	898	851	547
PSV emissions	293	246	332	252

Percentage
	Prohibition rate2
	Immediate prohibitions3				Delayed prohibitions4
Vehicle category	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
HGV motor vehicles1	11.4	10.6	17.2	13.4	12.5	12.0	20.6	14.4
HGV trailers	10.6	8.0	7.6	11.2	12.3	11.6	12.9	16.8
HGV emissions	0.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.7	0.6	1.2
PSV vehicles1	4.6	5.1	5.3	7.1	2.3	4.8	7.3	6.4
PSV emissions	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.3	0.8
1 Excludes emissions only checks, but includes foreign vehicles.
2 Only one prohibition notice is issued per vehicle although it may contain a list of defects/offences where more than one has been found. The most serious defect/offence determines whether an immediate or delayed prohibition is issued.
3 Immediate prohibition rate relates to all vehicles (including foreign vehicles).
4 Delayed prohibition rate excludes checks on foreign vehicles. The Foreign Vehicles Act does not provide for the issue of delayed prohibitions to foreign vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the expansion of the road network in Wales. [151751]

None. The expansion of the motorway trunk road network in Wales is entirely a matter for the National Assembly for Wales who have devolved responsibility for these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles have been stopped for roadside checks by the Vehicles Inspectorate in London in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many (a) were found to have vehicle faults and (b) were motor cars and other non-commercial vehicles. [151073]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (formerly the Vehicle Inspectorate) conducts its enforcement activity within a network of 23 enforcement areas covering England, Scotland and Wales. Enforcement Area 15 (Metropolitan) covers the majority of London boroughs. The number of vehicles stopped at the roadside by the Vehicle Inspectorate in Enforcement Area 15 and the percentage found to have roadworthiness faults are shown in the following tables. Figures are only available for the last four years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people benefit from the Vehicle Excise Duty exemption for people with the mobility component for disability living allowance; and what is the average amount of money they will save in 2003–04. [150449]

The latest available figures show that there are 1,548,512 people in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance. Of this figure, 790,000 claim the exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).The financial value of a VED exemption is dependent on the age, engine size and carbon dioxide emissions level of a vehicle. This can be within the range of £75 to £165 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress British forces have made in restricting the poppy harvest in Afghanistan. [150125]

The United Kingdom has a comprehensive strategy to assist Afghanistan to end its opium trade. While our armed forces are not directly involved in the eradication of the opium poppy crop, their deployments with the International Security Assistance Force and the Provincial Reconstruction Team, and our support for local security forces, all help to contribute towards the counter-narcotics programmes of civilian law enforcement and development agencies. They also help the Afghans themselves to create the structures through which they can implement more effectively President Karzai's commitment to deal with both opium farming and trafficking in his country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 463W, on bearskins, what species of bear's pelt is used to make the bearskin caps; whether this species is classified as endangered within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; what steps the Department takes to ensure the taking of bears is a sustainable practice; and if he will make a statement. [150147]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: Bearskin caps are made from the fur of the American black bear. This is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species not currently rare or endangered, but which could become so if trade is not regulated, and all exports of American black bear products from Canada must be accompanied by a CITES export license. CITES species in Canada are managed through the Canadian Wildlife Service and the American black bear is currently classified as not at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military vessel manoevures took place in the vicinity of the Bugaled Briezh between 12.00 noon and 14.00 on 15 January. [150989]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: Only two naval vessels were in the immediate vicinity of the Bugaled Briezh—HNLMS Dolfijn and HMS Tyne. HN LMS Dolfijn was surfaced and transitting to the start position of an Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise. She was some 11 nautical miles away at 1252Z when a French fishing vessel reported the capsize of Bugaled Briezh. HMS Tyne was on Fishery Protection duties and was 22 nautical miles north-east of the trawler at this time. She then proceeded to the scene and was tasked by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre to co-ordinate the search.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he is making of equipment programmes in relation to their key war fighting capabilities. [147274]

The Defence White Paper (Cm 6041) noted the need to ensure that defence resources are directed at those capabilities which are most appropriate for future operations. The Department's annual planning round involves a thorough examination of defence costs and capabilities, and includes an assessment of the contribution of equipment programmes in meeting the policy set out in the White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign ships have been hired by his Department in each of the last five years. [150409]

Freight-carrying ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence are categorized as either British or non-British registered. In the calendar year 2003, 58 non-British registered freight-carrying ships were chartered. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 626W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Prosser) for details of all vessels chartered in earlier years.Specialist ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence are categorized as either British or foreign-owned. The following foreign-owned specialist ships were chartered over the last five calendar years: 1999—eight, 2000—fourteen, 2001—four, 2002—twelve, 2003—nine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143903]

The answer to the question is, 1,315 civilian staff (approximately 1.4per cent.) contribute a total of £14,400 each month. These figures include Ministry of Defence Trading Funds.Of course this represents only a single element of charitable donations in the Department. For example some £30,000 is paid each month direct from payroll to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund.In 2004 we intend to remind all staff, by individual leaflet, of the benefits of donating to charity through the "Give as you Earn" scheme.For the armed forces, the latest available figures are from December 2003. In this month 906 Naval Service personnel (2.2per cent.) contributed around £2,100 to the Charity Payroll Giving Scheme, with a further 1,273 personnel (3 per cent.) contributing around £8,800 through Voluntary Deductions from Pay. The Army figures for December show 21,069 personnel (12.26 per cent.) contributed £99,552 and the RAF £15,274 from 2,561 personnel (4.8 per cent.) through their respective Give as you Earn Schemes.This represents only a single element of charitable donations in the Department. For example the equivalent of £120,000 per month (paid quarterly) is paid to the RAF Benevolent Fund directly from RAF pay.In previous years the Department have published Defence Council Instructions (DCIs) and produced articles in the three main Service publications (Navy News, Soldier Magazine and RAF News) on the benefits of donating to charity through the "Give as you Earn" schemes. We intend to continue this effort into 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has bulk-stored herbicides with a view to possible military application; and if he will make a statement. [146707]

The Ministry of Defence does not hulk-store herbicides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints have been received about the adequacy of investigations into Iraqi deaths resulting from UK military action; and if he will make a statement. [142615]

We have received a number of letters from members of the public and enquiries from the media some of which have expressed concern about investigations into Iraqi deaths allegedly caused by United Kingdom forces.The most common concerns expressed have been about the speed with which investigations are carried out, their independence and whether their results would be made public. In responding we make clear that investigations are thorough, which can take time; that both the Royal Military Police and, if called on, the single-service Prosecuting Authorities are fully independent of the chain of command; and that while the findings of investigations are subject to legal, operational and other security constraints, there may be some circumstances in which we are able to release certain details to entitled persons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of hoods on Iraqi citizens in the course of their arrest or detention in Iraq. [147708]

Current practice in Iraq is that hoods are not used on Iraqi citizens during or after their arrest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received on the smelting plant near Basra which is melting down tanks and armoured vehicles contaminated by depleted uranium; and what efforts are being made to identify and close down such facilities in the area controlled by British forces. [148056]

There is no known legitimate operational smelting plant in the Basra region. A small number of illegal mobile smelting plants used for smuggled copper and aluminium have been found and closed down. There is no evidence they had been used to smelt tanks.Military vehicles known to have been hit by DU munitions within the southern sector of Iraq controlled by the British military have been clearly marked. Arrangements are currently being negotiated with the US for a contractor to collect and store these military vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the report on the accident involving two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters in Iraq in March 2003 will be published. [150990]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: As is usual practice, on completion of the accident investigation, a copy of the findings of the Military Aircraft Accident Summary into the Royal Navy Sea King accident of March 2003 will be placed in the Library of the House. That investigation is not yet complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of weapons used for the first time in battlefield conditions in the war on Iraq. [151373]

Two weapons were used for the first time in Iraq, Storm Shadow and Maverick missiles.Operational feedback is that both missiles were accurate and effective against a range of targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 1124W, on overseas deployments, if he will list the countries where personnel are deployed other than those where they are stationed; and how many are deployed in each case. [151097]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 67W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what measures have been put in place to ensure that complaints of violence against women by UK military personnel employed overseas are properly investigated; [149666](2) if he will list the complaints received of violence against women, made against UK military personnel stationed abroad in the last 10 years. [149664]

The armed forces do not tolerate any form of criminal behaviour and have well-established and effective procedures for dealing with allegations. Whether arising in the UK or overseas, complaints are thoroughly investigated and the relevant prosecution authorities consulted. Disciplinary action is taken as appropriate.For troops serving overseas, the investigating authority is determined by the status and nationality of the complainant, the provisions of any Status of Forces Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding existing between the UK and the host nation.Complete records of complaints of violence against women by service personnel are not held centrally, and the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) his Department and (b) agencies and companies operating on his behalf have had with Parker Plan road compaigners in respect of road construction in or near the south-east corner of Boscombe Down Airfield. [150806]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Naval Reserve have (a) been called up and (b) served in Operation Telic; and how many have served for more than one tour. [150862]

Up to 23 January 2004, 446 members of the Royal Naval Reserve had been called out for Operation TELIC, of whom 371 were accepted into service. Seven, all volunteers, have either completed more than one tour of duty or are currently doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the Royal Navy's (a) Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft and (b) Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon projects. [149542]

The Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) programme is currently nearing the end of its Assessment Phase. A Main Gate investment decision is expected later this year when, as with any other programme, the decision on Demonstration and Manufacture will be made, with the capability planned to be phased into service around the turn of the decade.The Future Air to Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme remains early in its concept phase. This includes studies into a range of solutions to provide a future Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) capability, superseding the Sea Skua missile currently carried by the Royal Navy Lynx helicopters. A final investment decision will be made at the programme Main Gate, currently planned for the second half of this decade, with the capability entering service during the first half of the next decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months. [147978]

Between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003, personnel employed at MOD establishments reported 2,012 passes lost and 90 stolen. During the same period, personnel employed at establishments of MOD agencies reported 882 passes lost and 23 stolen. The passes carry a photograph of the holder and have other features that inhibit their fraudulent replication. Therefore, the loss of such passes, in isolation, is not assessed to pose an increased threat, although this is kept under constant review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to ensure that the UK national power supply is protected from sabotage. [151257]

The Government provides protective security advice to key sectors and installations that are critical to the country's economic and social well-being. Our experience of domestic terrorist attacks over the past 30 years has shown that these arrangements have made an effective contribution to the counter-terrorism effort.We provide tailored advice to a variety of industries, as well as to individual companies and public sector organisations, about how to make contingency arrangements and provide protective security. This advice comes from the Security Service and other sources.This is an ongoing process and, for understandable reasons, it would be inappropriate to give details of what advice is provided to which organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collated on the number of forecourts in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which sell bio-diesel. [151439]

The Department of Trade and Industry does not record the number of forecourts which sell bio-diesel. However, from discussions with biofuels suppliers we estimate the following:

(a) Scotland—13

(b) England—116

(c) Wales—0

(d) Northern Ireland—7

It is worth noting that additionally a significant proportion of biodiesel is supplied in bulk directly to the commercial market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 845W, on broadband, when she will publish a report on the work and findings of the joint departmental Rural Broadband Team. [150770]

The role of the joint DTI/Defra Rural Broadband Unit is to facilitate understanding and promote partnerships between the telecommunications industry, Government agencies and community organisations to spread information and best practice. For instance, the Unit will shortly be publishing a 'Rural Broadband Toolkit' to help rural communities and businesses understand the issues surrounding access to broadband.The Unit works as part of the wider DTI Broadband Unit and will not be producing a report specifically on its own work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much space, expressed in square metres, the Department occupies for the offices of civil servants in (a) central London and (b) Greater London. [150273]

The Department currently occupies 80,000 sq metres in central London and an additional 7,000 sq m in Greater London. This excludes agencies but includes space occupied by the Department in buildings where other Government Departments have the lead responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she proposes to publish her decisions arising from the Competition Commission report on the proposed GUS/Reality and Littlewoods Mail Order/ Home Trading organisations. [150229]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 22 January 2004, Official Report, column 1453.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how innovation funding in the areas of (a) industrial exploitation of science, (b) support for competitiveness, (c) space, (d) technical and design infrastructure, (e) support for construction industry, (f) expert advice and other expenditure and (g) invest to save projects, as set out in her departmental report 2003, was allocated in 2003–04; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997. [147804]

Successive departmental reports have provided breakdowns and explanations of my Department's innovation expenditure, including on Space and Civil Aerospace Research and Development

	1997–98 outturn	1998–99 outturn	1999–2000 outturn	2000–01 working provision1	2001–02 outturn	2002–03 working provision2	2003–04 plans
Knowledge transfer and collaboration	39.3	30.5	32.7	47.2	—	—	—
Innovation promotion and support	78.0	61.2	56.1	66.8	—	—	—
Standards and National Measurement System	56.6	60.0	60.4	61.7	—	—	—
Sector Challenge	4.6	11.5	10.4	4.3	—	—	—
CARAD	24.6	21.0	20.0	20.0	—	—	—
Space3	102.4	87.5	88.2	90.0	87.7	85.0	82.5
Industrial exploitation of science	—	—	—	—	67.9	86.8	94.1
Support for competitiveness	—	—	—	—	60.3	73.0	73.4
Technical and design infrastructure	—	—	—	—	69.9	73.7	89.4
Expert advice and other expenditure	—	—	—	—	7.7	3.8	2.7
Total	305.5	271.7	267.8	290.0	293.5	322.3	342.1
1 Budget structure changed from 2001–02.
2 2002–03 outturn will be reported in the 2004 departmental report.
3 Excludes Office of Science and Technology expenditure on space (except for 2003–04 plans, which include BNSC budgets transferring to the Science budget from 2003–04).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miners' compensation claims for respiratory diseases (a) have been made, (b) have been settled and (c) are outstanding in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside and (iii) the UK in each year since 1997. [149913]

Claims are dealt with on a priority basis, those from the eldest and sickest living miners and their widows being deal with first. Claims that are outstanding may be a lower priority or they may have an outstanding policy issue that is preventing settlement of the claim.The figures are:

Year claim registered	Claim receipts	Total settlements including denied/withdrawn (as of 16 January 2004)	Number outstanding
Jarrow
19971	9	5	4
19981	93	55	38
19991	140	75	65
2000	92	45	47
2001	191	59	132
20022	128	19	109
20032	415	3	412
2004	36	—	36
Total	1,104	261	843

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of Lottery revenue used to support Government-sponsored projects within her Department since 1997. [149629]

[holding answer 26 January 2004]: My Department has no policy or operational responsibility for distribution of National Lottery proceeds. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) purpose and (b) outcome was of the meeting convened by her Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh South, on 21 January with representatives of North-East Somerset, Mowlen plc. and Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners Ltd. [151804]

The PUSS met as Construction Minister to discuss construction matters. This was achieved.

Customer Interruptions—CIs
DNO	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Aquila (ex-Midlands)	132.24	120.82	139.69	147.77	123.54
EME (ex-East Midlands)	93.10	76.47	77.80	91.38	78.82
EPN (ex-Eastern)	73.71	60.40	66.11	68.83	102.02
Hydro (Scottish Hydro)	153.10	155.00	141.20	131.61	124.71
LPN (ex-London)	39.18	36.89	36.19	39.75	38.62
NEDL (ex-Northern)	90.07	92.59	89.91	98.09	93.65
SP Distribution (ex-Scottish Power)	72.95	85.75	82.24	91.52	76.27
SPN (ex-Seeboard)	91.00	95.50	89.90	88.50	93.29
Southern	72.73	63.97	74.37	73.78	103.17
SP Manweb	57.33	44.13	53.08	53.01	51.60
UU (ex-Norweb)	83.80	57.60	54.10	54.10	56.46
WPD S. Wales (ex-Swalec)	185.70	150.20	152.70	158.20	120.73
WPD S. West (ex-Sweb)	105.50	80.10	90.40	86.50	107.06
YEDL (ex-Yorkshire)	80.00	71.79	73.03	69.80	78.79

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have been helped by each regional development agency; what the average sum of money received by these businesses is; how many of the businesses helped are still operating; and how many of these businesses have increased their profitability. [148189]

England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) help businesses both directly and indirectly through a range of activities and programmes including skills development, upgrading infrastructure and improving business competitiveness of the region in general.Information on how many businesses have been helped, the average sum of money received, how many are still operating, and how many have increased their profitability, is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.The number of businesses added to the regional economy as a direct result of RDA activity is available for financial year 2002–03 and is broken down by

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many power cuts there were in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) individual power company. [151259]

(a) Information by constituency is not held centrally either by DTI or OFGEM—it could only be obtained via a detailed information request to companies which would take considerable time and cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in (a) Poland, (b) Lithuania and (c) Latvia. [150826]

UK Trade and Investment does not stimulate outward investment to any market. The decision to invest is a commercial one and companies have to decide the best way of running their business. Where companies have made that decision they can ask UK Trade and Investment to provide advice and assistance to enable companies to invest successfully abroad, minimising the associated risks and maximising the benefit to companies and the UK economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in (a) the Czech Republic and (b) Bulgaria; [150828]

[holding answers 26 January 2004]: UK Trade and Investment does not stimulate outward investment to any market. The decision to invest is a commercial one and companies have to decide the best way of running their business. Where companies have made that decision they can ask UK Trade and Investment to provide advice and assistance to enable companies to invest successfully abroad, minimising the associated risks and maximising the benefit to companies and the UK economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which members of the World Trade Organisation have yet to (a) ratify and (b) implement the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Financial Services. [149079]

The WTO agreement on financial services dates from 12 December 1997 and required ratification and acceptance by 29 January 1999. To date, Brazil, Jamaica and Philippines have not done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many delegates from each member of the World Trade Organisation attended the ministerial conference in Cancun in September 2003. [149977]

According to WTO Secretariat figures over 3,200 accredited delegates attended the 5^th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun held in September 2003, from 144 member country delegations.The WTO Secretariat does not provide a breakdown of the number of delegates by member country. A list of all accredited delegates is available from the WTO website at:www.wto.org.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to discontinue the use of aldicarb on crops in the UK. [150520]

Council Decision 2003/199/EC of 18 March 2003 requires member states to withdraw approvals for most uses of products containing aldicarb by 18 September 2004.However, the Decision allows for certain 'essential uses' of aldicarb to continue until 31 December 2007. These are limited uses for which no efficient alternative control methods currently exist. In the UK the essential uses are for the control of nematodes (parasitic worms) on potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions and ornamentals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by the Pesticide Safety Directorate of the effects on human health of pesticides containing aldicarb. [150521]

The UK was the `rapporteur member state' for aldicarb in the EC review of pesticides under Directive 91/414/EEC. The Pesticides Safety Directorate was thus responsible for examining extensive scientific data on aldicarb to draft an assessment report for review by all other member states and the EC Commission.The EC review of aldicarb concluded that under normal conditions of use there would be no unacceptable risks to workers or consumers. However, the substance is being phased out due to potential environmental impacts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Pesticide Safety Directorate has published on the handling of pesticides containing aldicarb. [150522]

Advice on safe handling of pesticides is provided as 'safety precautions' on the labels and accompanying literature for pesticides. The safety precautions for each pesticide product are checked and agreed by the Pesticide Safety Directorate as part of the approval process.Pesticides containing aldicarb carry over 20 safety precautions covering the following areas: operator protection (including details of specified protective clothing); consumer protection; environmental protection; and storage and disposal advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's statutory responsibilities are under the Animal Health Act 1981 in respect of the elimination of contiguous reservoirs of disease which have zoonotic and animal health implications. [150577]

Under section 29 of the Animal Health Act 1981, the Secretary of State may, with a view to reducing the risk to human health of any disease of, or organism carried in, animals, make an Order designating any such disease or organism which, in her opinion, constitutes such a risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the project designed to assess the impact of removing badgers from the ecosystem will also take into account (a) the impact of allowing unrestrained growth of the badger population and (b) the impact of controlled reductions in badger populations to various levels. [150473]

Even where culling does not take place the local badger population is not undergoing `unrestrained growth' as it will be subject to limits imposed by natural and human phenomena. The project designed to assess the impact of removing badgers from the ecosystem will assess the impact on other wildlife of controlled reductions in badger populations to various levels, in comparison with areas where badgers are not culled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she reconciled the inability to estimate the effect of alternative capture methods of badgers which would remove 100 per cent. of the population with the findings during the Thornbury trial. [150490]

The Krebs Report referred to the difficulty of assessing the effect of different control strategies on the prevalence of TB in badgers and on herd breakdowns. The report says

"None of the control strategies have been assessed in a properly designed experiment to establish their efficacy." (Krebs Report pages 82–83).

A comparison of reactive culling areas of the Randomised Badger Culling trial (RBCT) and the Thornbury clearance area is not valid. Although indicative of the effect on cattle TB incidence that might be expected if a total badger clearance were achieved, the Thornbury badger removal was performed without contemporary control areas. This limits its usefulness as a basis for comparison with the impact of lesser percentage badger clearances achieved by other methods, since any change in he incidence of TB in cattle subsequent to culling could have resulted in whole or in part from some other cause.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 211W, what conclusions she draws from the data on the location of TB lesions in badgers as to the main route of infection; and whether it is possible to draw similar conclusions in respect of the data available on the location of TB lesions in cattle. [150491]

Infection with Mycobacterium bovis most often causes lesions in the respiratory tract and the associated lymph nodes, which suggests that the most common route of infection in badgers and cattle is by inhalation, or ingestion followed by inhalation. In badgers infection by inoculation through bite wounds are also a relatively frequent route of infection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the scientific rationale was for the choice of the different distance parameters adopted for the culling zones of badgers in (a) the Gassing Strategy and (b) the Clean Ring Strategy, of the Krebs trials. [150509]

For the gassing strategy: where TB infection was found in badgers, an area of up to one kilometre from the farm boundary was surveyed, to include the full territories of badgers on the infected farm. Social groupings were identified and all infected social groups, and groups in contact with them, were gassed. The area gassed was determined by the location of infected farms, infected badgers, sett groupings and natural boundaries. (Krebs Report 1997, page 142)For the Clean Ring strategy: infected social groups, and those contiguous with them were culled. Culling, of social groups that were contiguous to groups found to be infected, continued until a clean ring of social groups containing no infected animals was found and removed, or else there were no badgers found. (Krebs Report page 143)The use of broadly circular treatment areas of 100 km

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what distances can be travelled by adult badgers from their setts to their food sources; and what the radii were of the Krebs (a) reactive and (b) proactive areas. [150512]

Adult badgers can travel between a few metres and a few kilometres from their setts to their food sources dependent on the quality of the habitat. None of the Krebs reactive and proactive areas are completely circular, so no exact radii can be evaluated. Trial areas are initially described using a 5.64 km radius circle but this shape is distorted by natural features and survey data to end up with areas of around 100 sq km. However, details of the total surface areas of the Krebs reactive and proactive areas are available on the Defra Internet site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 211W, on badgers, what proportion of badgers culled as part of TB control strategies conducted during 1979–97 tested positive for M. bovis; and what the percentage was in (a) 1975–82, (b) 1982–88 and (c) 1988–97. [150547]

The following table gives these data:

Period	1979–97	1975–82	1982–88	1988–97
Badgers culled	20,252	2,661	6,367	13,401
Badgers positive for M. bovis	3,985	283	966	3,118
Percentage	20.1	10.7	15.2	24.0

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 212W, what inferences can be drawn from the preponderance of TB lesions found in badgers on post mortem examination arising in the lymphatic nodes of head and chest as to (a) the portal of infection, (b) the possible routes of infection and (c) the risk presented by those badgers to other animals. [150564]

Infection with Mycobacterium bovis frequently causes lesions in the respiratory tract and the associated lymph nodes of badgers, which suggests that a common route of infection is by inhalation, or ingestion followed by inhalation. Where there is infection of the respiratory tract, it is probable that there are phases of M. bovis excretion of infected saliva via the respiratory tract, which may contaminate pasture or animal feed containers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether material contaminated with the M. bovis bacilli deposited on grassland by badgers and subsequently entrained in hay used for the feeding of cattle is considered to present a significant risk of infection to (a) cattle, (b) farmers and (c) other persons who may handle this material. [150570]

As the organism Mycobacterium bovis prefers damp mild conditions it is unlikely to survive the hay making process. We consider that there is no significant risk of infection to cattle, farmers or other persons who may handle hay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many Krebs reactive areas badger culling was commenced in May 2003; how many farms were involved in these areas; how many of those farms had had (a) one and (b) two 60-day tests after the clearance operations; and what the results were of those tests. [150579]