To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had in the last 12 months with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Katharine Gun case. [158781]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra revenue has accrued for each year since 1997; and what he estimates the projected extra revenue will be for the next 10 years, as a result of freezing the threshold of vehicle excise duty exemption for classic cars at the year 1973, compared with the rolling 25-year exemption previously in operation. [158218]

Since 1997 the Government have sought to restructure Vehicle Excise Duty so that it reflects the environmental impacts of vehicles. This is in keeping with the Government's aim to ensure that the UK meets its legally binding Kyoto targets for the reduction of carbon emissions. The rolling 25-year exemption was abolished in 1998 because it was inconsistent with this environmental focus.Currently the VED exemption in respect of all vehicles registered before 1 January 1973 costs the Exchequer over £40 million per annum. If the rolling 25-year VED exemption for cars had continued to the present day, the additional costs to the Exchequer in terms of revenue foregone would have been close to £9 million in 2003–04 alone. The total additional cost since 1997 would have been a little over £20 million. Precise figures would require detailed analysis of vehicle stock data, including engine sizes of all extant 25 to 30-year-old vehicles. Future revenue implications will depend on vehicle ownership and use patterns, and in particular on how quickly older vehicles are scrapped.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle paths there were in each year since 1997. [159316]

The Department does not hold this information for the 1997–98 financial year. The following table lists cycle tracks and cycle lanes in kilometres constructed by local authorities for subsequent years.

Number of cycle tracks and lanes from 1997–98 to 2002–03 (kilometers)
	Cycle track	Cycle lane	Total
1998–99	210	145	355
1999–2000	221	178	399
2000–01	810	399	1,209
2001–02	804	405	1,209
2002–03	1,348	2,118	3,466

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the need for high-speed rail services. [156083]

The Strategic Rail Authority discussed the feasibility of a north-south high-speed line in its Strategic Plan 2003 as part of its long-term planning. But the priority is for the railway to concentrate on improving its current performance on the existing network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent figures are for (a) reliability, (b) punctuality, (c) public performance measures and (d) complaints for each train operator operating services in Greater London in each of the last five years. [158659]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) measures train performance by the Public Performance Measure (PPM) which combines reliability and punctuality. It is published by train operator in the SRA's quarterly National Rail Trends (NRT). The latest publication covers performance to the year ending 30 September 2003 and is placed in the Library of the House. The next edition, Quarter 3 2003–04, covering performance to 31 December 2003 will be published on 11 March.Until March 2003, complaints data by train operator were published in the SRA's six monthly

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the re-opening of railway stations at (a) Easington, (b) Colliery and (c) Horden. [159317]

There are no current plans to re-open these stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Network Rail has exemption from the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of track maintenance work. [158909]

NR is bound by the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). There is no specific exemption for Network Rail, but exceptions are provided which may sometimes be utilised by NR to maintain the safety and reliability of the railway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate real terms cost inflation for road improvement projects in Greater London for each year since 1997. [158661]

Information on real-terms cost inflation is not recorded on an annual basis for road projects. Since July 2000, Transport for London, under the Mayor, have been responsible for road improvement projects in London, excluding motorways, which remain the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what police procedures oversee the use of DNA kits issued by Metroline bus company used to identify spitting offenders. [159046]

The London Borough of Brent's Operational Command Unit in partnership with Metroline will soon be piloting the use of DNA kits on buses to aid the identification of spitting offenders. Protocols as to the use of DNA kits are currently being established. This pilot scheme is expected to commence in April and is expected to run for six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of the formal meetings he has had with the Mayor of London about transport projects in London. [158765]

[holding answer 4 March 2004]: The Secretary of State and other Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor of London on a range of topics.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) advice and (b) guidance is given to former members of the Cabinet concerning disclosures of (i) Cabinet deliberations and (ii) classified documents. [159407]

The obligations on former Ministers are set out in paragraph 18 of the ministerial code. On leaving office, Ministers are reminded of these obligations.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will reply to the letter to him dated 8 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms V. Bromage. [157906]

This correspondence was received for the first time in the Cabinet Office on 1 March. The issues raised are matters for the Department of Constitutional Affairs and your letter has therefore been passed to the noble Lord, the Lord Filkin who I understand will reply shortly.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a list of the overseas visits undertaken by ministers in his Department since 1999 indicating in each case by (a) destination, (b) purpose of visit, (c) size of party, (d) composition of party, (e) cost to public funds of each party and (f) the capacity in which the Minister was sent. [159346]

The Government have published the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis since 1997. The last list for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 482W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.Copies of previous lists are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of the Government's targets for the online delivery of services. [158045]

The Government continue to receive representations from stakeholders on the 2005 e-delivery target.In September 2002 this target was extended to focus on delivering benefits to customers by achieving high levels of use for key services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions were brought by her Department against abattoirs for breaches of (a) fresh meat hygiene regulations and (b) animal welfare regulations in each of the calendar years 2002 and 2003; how many separate charges were contained within these prosecutions; on how many of the charges convictions were secured; how many charges were withdrawn by her Department before they were determined by the courts; and what the total sum of legal costs incurred by her Department in the pursuit of these charges was. [158071]

Not all of the detailed information requested is recorded centrally, in particular how many charges were withdrawn, but a summary is provided in the following table. The information covers both this Department and the Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for meat hygiene prosecutions, as well as being involved with animal welfare cases.

Meat hygiene prosecutions	2002	2003
Number of prosecutions	6	10
Charges on which convictions secured	29	26
Legal costs incurred in pursuit of the charges	16,724	36,648

Meat hygiene prosecutions	2002	2003
Animal welfare prosecutions
Number of prosecutions	4	7
Charges on which convictions secured	7	42
FSA legal costs incurred in pursuit of the charges	14,187	19,907
Defra legal costs incurred in pursuit of the charges	3,392	4,999

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses. [158641]

There are extensive provisions in the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 designed to protect the welfare of animals both immediately before, and during, the slaughter process. In addition the Farm Animal Welfare Council published a report in 2003 on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter. The report included 94 recommendations for improving animal welfare. The Government will be issuing shortly for public consultation their draft response to these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to make compulsory the stunning of animals before religious slaughter. [158640]

The Government's draft response to the recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter, including the recommendation that all animals should be stunned prior to slaughter, will be issued for public consultation shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2004, Official Report, column 1441W, on bovine TB, what criteria were used to assess the humaneness of the pesticide fumigants approved for the destruction of rabbits and moles. [158427]

The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (COPR) requires pesticides to be humane and this issue in relation to approved vertebrate control agents was considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides in 1996.Quantification of "humaneness" was attempted using the assumptions

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of disease in humans have been attributed to TB infection in cats. [158006]

I have been asked to reply.There have been no reported cases of tuberculosis infection in humans attributed to infection in cats.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) dolphins and (b) porpoises killed each year (i) by British fishing vessels, (ii) in British waters, (iii) by vessels of other European Union countries and (iv) in European Union waters; and if she will make a statement. [156216]

On the basis of research conducted on behalf of Defra by the Sea Mammal Research Unit, estimates have been made of bycatch in UK fisheries. In the offshore bass fishery total bycatches are of the order of 90 dolphins per year, which represents less than 0.1 per cent. of the most recent estimate of common dolphin abundance in the south-west. Annual porpoise bycatch totals for gill net and tangle net fisheries in the south west cannot be determined at present, but bycatch rates estimates are likely to be in the region of 500 porpoises per year. Porpoise bycatch estimates for the North Sea and the west of Scotland are around 490 animals per year.However, bycatch information from other member states whose vessels operate in these fisheries and elsewhere around the UK is not available so it is not possible to produce reliable estimates of dolphin and porpoise bycatch deaths within the UK 200-mile limit. In particular, it should be noted that UK vessels in the offshore bass fishery in the south west represent only a small proportion of the total effort in the fishery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what powers, and for what reasons, the North-West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee may close cockle beds. [156858]

[holding answer 27 February 2004]: The North-West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee may close cockle beds in their district for the purposes of fishery management or for controlling the rate of exploitation of the cockle stocks therein. The closure must be for a specified period and undertaken only after consultation with scientists and local cockle fishermen. Sea Fisheries Committees' byelaws are made under the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 (as amended).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos. [154068]

Defra spent the following sums on establishing a new identity since the Department was created in June 2001. Details of expenditure on branding within the predecessor departments could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Breakdown of branding costs
	£
Scoping/consultancy	122,620
Identity design and Brand architecture	48,000
Web design	18,460
Other brand activity	139,977
2002–03 total	329,057
Estimated cost of replacing signage	100,000
2003–04 total	100,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses were (a) slaughtered for meat and (b) exported for slaughter in the last year for which figures are available. [157264]

In 2003, 6,727 horses were slaughtered in licensed red meat slaughterhouses in England. I am advised that no live horses were exported for slaughter in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs who will administer the National Equine Database. [156653]

The National Equine Database will be jointly administered by industry and Defra though the precise mechanism has yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to revoke the minimum values legislation; [156664](2) if she will amend the minimum values legislation to prevent the export of live horses for slaughter. [156665]

I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November 2003 explaining our intention to review the minimum values legislation in the light of proposed changes to the European directive on the welfare of animals during transport. There appears to be some misapprehensions about the existing legislation which has been in place for many years. The minimum values legislation applies to certain types of working horse (but only if they are exported for work) and to ponies. It does not apply to other horses. We have considered carefully whether we could ban the export of horses for slaughter but this would be inconsistent with the approach taken consistently by successive Governments and we believe that we cannot restrict the free movement of horses which is why our focus has been on achieving improved regulation in the UK and across Europe to reduce cruelty and improve the welfare of animals during transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants were awarded to local authorities in Dorset by her Department in financial year 2003–04 that fall outside the revenue support grant.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Raynsford) on 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 750W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set up a meeting with milk producers, representatives of supermarkets, dairy farmers and members of her Department to discuss farmgate prices of milk. [156507]

Price negotiation between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets, are a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, as competition rules have to be respected It would be inappropriate for me to discuss private price negotiations and I have no plans to do so. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues. The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend Lord Whitty, has been looking at collaborative solutions to improve supply chain efficiency, and address some of the other underlying causes of low farmgate prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the controls contained in the proposed EU chemicals regulation on the use of persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. [158953]

The European Commission proposes that substances of very high concern shall not be used unless an authorisation for that use has been granted to the user or supplier. Substances of very high concern are defined as carcinogens, mutagens and substances toxic to the reproductive system (CMRs) categories 1 or 2; substances which are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT); very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB); or substances, such as those having endocrine disrupting properties or those having PBT and vPvB properties which do not meet the above criteria and which are identified as causing serious and irreversible effects to humans or the environment on a case by case basis.The Government support the aims of the authorisation process to ensure that the risks from substances of high concern are properly controlled and that these substances may be eventually replaced by suitable substances or technologies with the aim of reducing risks to human health and the environment. The Government welcome the inclusion of substances meeting the PBT criteria as being subject to the authorisation procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mode of action of (a) aluminium phosphide and (b) hydrogen cyanide is in terms of its effects on small mammals when used as a pesticide. [157930]

The following modes of action apply to all mammals, not just small ones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances the Little Red Tractor mark could be awarded to chicken produced in Thailand. [156651]

The Red Tractor is a privately-owned logo which is administered by an Independent company, Assured Food Standards. The logo can be used only under licence from that company and only on food that is produced in accordance with standards laid down in an assurance scheme approved by the company, by a member of such a scheme. We understand that no chicken produced in Thailand meets these eligibility requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which constituencies are in severely disadvantaged areas. [156112]

The severely disadvantaged areas are those areas of land within less favourable areas of the UK, which are handicapped, principally by reason of high altitude, harsh climate, short growing season, low fertility, difficult topography or remoteness. They are defined in statutory maps and in England lie within the following constituencies:

• Barnsley West and Penistone County Constituency
• Barrow and Furness County Constituency
• Berwick-Upon-Tweed County Constituency
• Bishop Auckland County Constituency
• Blackburn Borough Constituency
• Bolton North East Borough Constituency
• Bolton West County Constituency
• Bradford South Borough Constituency
• Bradford West Borough Constituency
• Bridgwater County Constituency
• Burnley Borough Constituency
• Burton County Constituency
• Bury North Borough Constituency
• Calder Valley County Constituency
• Chorley County Constituency
• City of Durham County Constituency
• Colne Valley County Constituency
• Copeland County Constituency
• Halifax Borough Constituency
• Hazel Grove County Constituency
• Hereford County Constituency
• Hexham County Constituency
• Heywood and Middleton County Constituency
• High Peak County Constituency
• Huddersfield Borough Constituency
• Hyndburn Borough Constituency
• Keighley County Constituency
• Lancaster and Wyre County Constituency
• Leominster County Constituency
• Ludlow County Constituency
• Macclesfield County Constituency
• Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland County Constituency
• Morecambe and Lunesdale County Constituency
• North Cornwall County Constituency
• North Devon County Constituency
• North East Derbyshire County Constituency
• North Shropshire County Constituency
• North West Durham County Constituency
• Oldham East and Saddleworth County Constituency
• Pendle Borough Constituency
• Penrith and The Border County Constituency
• Pudsey Borough Constituency
• Ribble Valley County Constituency
• Richmond (Yorks) County Constituency
• Rochdale County Constituency
• Rossendale and Darwen Borough Constituency
• Ryedale County Constituency
• Scarborough and Whitby County Constituency
• Sheffield, Hallam County Constituency
• Sheffield, Hillsborough County Constituency
• Shipley County Constituency
• Shrewsbury and Atcham County Constituency

• Skipton and Ripon County Constituency
• South East Cornwall County Constituency
• South West Devon County Constituency
• St. Ives County Constituency
• Staffordshire Moorlands County Constituency
• Stalybridge and Hyde County Constituency
• Stone County Constituency
• Taunton County Constituency
• Teignbridge County Constituency
• Tiverton and Honiton County Constituency
• Torridge and West Devon County Constituency
• Totnes County Constituency
• Truro and St. Austell County Constituency
• Vale of York County Constituency
• Wakefield County Constituency
• West Derbyshire County Constituency
• Westmorland and Lonsdale County Constituency
• Workington County Constituency

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many units of United Kingdom sheep quota were leased-out but remained unused by the recipient farmers in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [158431]

The number of sheep quota units leased out in England is set out in the following table. These figures relate to the 2003 and 2004 sheep quota trading periods respectively. The figure for 2004 is an interim figure because the trading period closed on 4 February 2004 and a proportion of notifications remain to be remain to be processed.

Year	Units leased
2002–03	822.057
2003–04	428,424

It is not possible to confirm the number of leased quota units that recipient farmers did not use to support sheep premium payments. This is not monitored as there is no requirement in European legislation for farmers to use quota they have leased in.The information for other countries within the UK is a matter for their respective Devolved Assemblies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the impact of her proposed arrangement for single farm payments upon land values (a) before and (b) after 2012; [157102](2) what assessment she has made of the impact of her proposed arrangement for single farm payments upon

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of single farm payments on (a) farms that are rented, (b) owner farms, (c) upland farms, (d) middlehill farms, (e) lowland farms, (f) dairy farms, (g) beef farms, (h) sheep farms, (i) arable farms and (j) mixed farms, in Chorley. [157704]

Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the Secretary of State's Statement to the House on 12 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on UK troop levels in Afghanistan. [156737]

We currently have around 490 members of the armed forces deployed in Afghanistan, mostly serving with either the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, or with our Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e Sharif.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the A400M will be delivered; and how many aircraft have been procured. [157564]

The in-service date of the A400M (defined as acceptance into service of the seventh aircraft) is 2011. We expect delivery of the final (twenty-fifth) aircraft to be in 2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the size of the proposed new aircraft carriers. [154627]

The Future Carrier programme is currently in its Assessment Phase. The Department has not sought to fix the dimensions of the aircraft carriers during this stage. Instead, parameters such as the ships' size will reflect the design required to meet our capability requirements. It is to be expected that the design of the ships will evolve as the Department seeks to balance, in conjunction with industry, overall performance, time and cost as part of normal Assessment Phase activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the assessment of the feasibility of co-locating additional parts of the Defence Logistics Organisation alongside or close to the existing Ministry of Defence site at Abbey Wood in Bristol to be completed. [157312]

I expect to make an announcement on this issue before the summer. This will need to be followed by more detailed work on the development of options for possible collocation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Initial Operating Capability on the Eurofighter Typhoon is intended to be achieved; what the Beneficial Use Date for the Typhoon is; and if he will make a statement. [156955]

Typhoon will provide a meaningful "initial operating capability" when squadron pilots can begin training. At this point it is considered that they will begin to contribute to defence outputs, and this therefore signifies the Beneficial Use Date for accounting purposes. This is currently planned to be achieved during 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is seeking liquidated damages for the delays to the entry into service of the Eurofighter Typhoon; and if he will make a statement. [156956]

Liquidated damages for the delays to the entry into service of Typhoon will be recovered in accordance with our entitlements under the contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on 1 Battalion, the Irish Guards exercise in Kenya planned for autumn 2004. [159265]

It is currently planned that 1st Battalion, the Irish Guards will conduct training at Archer's Post, in Kenya, on Exercise GRAND PRIX over the period 16 September—27 October 2004.Exercise GRAND PRIX is a battalion group infantry exercise, and provides an opportunity for the Battalion to develop further its collective training skills, while suitably balancing its other activities in 2004, which are focussed on Public and State Ceremonial Duties in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make (a) a decision and (b) an announcement on whether the Ministry of Defence Fire Service will be retained or privatised. [158692]

[holding answer 4 March 2004]: This issue is being considered as part of the Airfield Support Services Project, which is seeking to establish the most cost-effective method of maintaining a full airfield support service including management and administration, without compromising operational capability and/or safety. No decision has yet been made about the outcome of this project and we will only do so following full and careful considerations of all the options. Although we are moving towards this point, I am not yet in a position to say exactly when this will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the comparative cost per firefighter per hour during the firefighters' strike of emergency cover by an armed forces' firefighter and a firefighter employed by a private firm under contract to his Department. [158693]

[holding answer 4 March 2004]: The full cost of using armed forces fire fighters during the fire fighters strike was approximately £17 per hour. No fire fighters employed by private contractors under contract to this Department were deployed on such duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surveys his Department have undertaken to assess the willingness of firefighters employed by private contractors to serve in war zones during hostilities. [158694]

[holding answer 4 March 2004]: As part of Fire Study 2000, a comprehensive investigation into the organisation of the Department's fire services, a survey was carried out to assess whether fire fighters engaged directly by the Department, and those employed by private contractors, would be willing to serve as Sponsored Reserves, which could involve serving overseas in hostile environments.No other specific surveys of fire fighters have been carried out by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover is given to (a) his Department's fire service personnel and (b) privately contracted firefighters when attending (i) road traffic accidents and (ii) other civil emergencies. [158695]

[holding answer 4 March 2004]: The Ministry of Defence does not purchase insurance policies but pays claims for compensation directly from its current expenditure. Claims are paid in accordance with the Department's legal liability to make payment.MOD Fire Fighters are covered for compensation if they should suffer injury or death as a result of negligence on the part of MOD while attending road traffic accidents or other civil emergencies to the same extent as when they are carrying out other official duties. Similarly, if MOD Fire Fighters were to cause injury or death to another individual, or damage to property belonging to another person, while attending road traffic accidents then MOD, not the fire fighter involved, would be liable to pay compensation to that person.If MOD Fire Fighters should suffer injury or death as a result of negligence on the part of another person or organisation then MOD would not be legally liable to pay them compensation. Instead they, or their estate, would have to claim from the person concerned. However MOD does have a scheme called ToPaS, under which legal advice and assistance can be obtained, without cost, to enable a claim to be brought.Under the rules governing Military Aid to the Civil Community, MOD requires local authorities to indemnify the Department against any costs, such as paying compensation, which may be incurred in providing Aid, such as attending road traffic accidents.Where the fire service is provided to the Department by a private contractor then it is the contractor who is responsible for making all the necessary insurance arrangements for their employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) majors and (b) brigadiers are between postings; how long each has been on leave; and if he will make a statement. [156073]

Less than five Regular Army officers in these ranks are between postings on compassionate leave, unpaid leave or awaiting placement. None of the periods between postings have lasted longer than eight months to date.Due to the low numbers involved this information cannot be broken down by Rank or duration because this could identify individuals and breach disclosure and confidentiality policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior officers are between postings in the (a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy, broken down by (i) rank and (ii) length of time on leave; and if he will make a statement. [156074]

As at 1 March 2004, there are currently no senior officers in the RAF between postings and on leave.In the Navy, as at 1 February 2004 there was one Commander between postings who had been waiting for a new post for seven days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with introducing (a) the Viking all-terrain protected vehicle for the Royal Marines, (b) the Army's Boxer Multi-role Armoured Vehicle and (c) the Defence Information Infrastructure Programme. [157285]

Deliveries of the Viking all-terrain protected vehicle continue according to programme, with 27 vehicles delivered to date. The In Service Date remains on track for April 2004 when 30 vehicles are due to have been delivered. A pilot Operator/Maintainer course has begun at the Armoured Training Centre, Bovington, to support the introduction of this equipment.On the Multi-role Armoured Vehicle, I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 17 July 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision to cancel the facility for service people in Iraq to receive parcels from home free of charge. [158777]

The postal packet service, whereby named service personnel on Operation Telic were able to receive packets weighing up to 2 kg from friends and relatives free of charge, was introduced at a time when a combination of the austere conditions and the operational situation meant that service personnel did not have access to the toiletries and consumables normally available through the Expeditionary Forces Institute (the deployable arm of NAAFI). By April 2004 the rollout of Expeditionary Forces Institute facilities will be complete allowing service personnel full access to toiletries and small consumables. In addition the Operational Welfare Package is now fully deployed; this includes: a free 20 minute phone call to anywhere in the world once a week, free access to the internet, a period of rest and recuperation of two weeks in a six month deployment, a generous allocation of TVs and radios to enable access to the British Forces Broadcasting Service, videos and DVDs, free books and access to leisure facilities that include gymnasia. Personnel still receive free aerogramme letters (blueys) and e-letters (e-blueys). While the concession for free packets has been withdrawn, packets weighing up to 2 kg can still be sent at a concessionary rate of £7.23, equivalent to the Royal Mail first class inland rate. Continued provision of the free postal packet service cannot be justified under these circumstances and when other operations in other parts of the world are not in receipt of this service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding was given to fund the original design work for Typhoon to operate off aircraft carriers. [158504]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 795W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his Department's policy is on seeking to prevent alcohol-related harm among older people; [157366](2) what assessment he has made of the extent of alcohol abuse among older people. [157367]

21 per cent. of men and 12 per cent. of women aged over 65 drink on a daily basis, although the vast majority of do not misuse alcohol.

Mean body mass index (BMI) by Government Office Region and Sex
All with a valid height and weight measurement 2002											Percentage
	Government Office Regions
BMI (kg/m2)	North East	North West	York and The Humber	West Midlands	East Midlands	East of England	London	South East	South West	England
Men aged 16+	27.7	26.9	27.3	27.4	27.3	27.2	25.9	26.8	26.6	26.9
Women aged 16+	26.8	26.8	26.7	27.4	27.3	27.3	26.6	26.2	26,0	26.7
Boys aged 0–151	18.8	18.0	17.6	18.3	18.2	17.9	18.2	18.0	18.0	18.1
Girls aged 0–151	19.0	18.8	18.3	18.6	18.6	18.1	18.7	18.3	18.0	18.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency will ensure that bed rails with more than 120mm between the rails will no longer be used in the NHS and in care homes; and if he will make a statement. [158056]

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)'s role is to provide guidance to the National Health Service and care providers regarding safety and best practice of medical devices and healthcare products. NHS trusts and care homes have a responsibility to act upon MHRA advice and ensure that with reference to the MHRA Medical Device Alert MDA 2004/007, they do not have beds with twin bar rails as described either in use or in storage.Within the social and independent care sectors, the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is currently responsible to ensure that operators act upon MHRA's advice, where relevant, during their routine inspections of these establishments. This role will be taken over by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in April 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he list the average body mass index in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in 2002. [156285]

Figures for average body mass index for adults and children in England and by region for 2002 are available from the Health Survey for England and are shown in the table. Figures by strategic health authority are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to promote guidance on, and the benefits of breast feeding to new mothers in the hospital setting. [157998]

The NHS Priorities and Planning Framework target to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by two percentage points a year between 2003 and 2006, focussing on disadvantaged groups, supported by the Commission for Health Improvement's Infant Health Indicator, will encourage primary care trusts and their maternity services to promote breastfeeding in the hospital setting.The Department provides advice and guidance on breastfeeding and related issues to mothers and health professionals through a variety of publications. In addition, the Department will be providing advice and guidance, drawing from existing best practice, to health professionals as part of this year's National Breastfeeding Awareness Week between 9 and 15 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to publish information on waiting times for treatment of cancers not covered by NHS Cancer Plan targets before 2005; [157771](2) what progress has been made towards meeting the targets for cancer treatment in the NHS Cancer Plan. [157773]

The primary purpose of the NHS Cancer Plan is to save more lives. Reducing waiting times is key to achieving this. The ultimate goal in the NHS Cancer Plan is to offer patients a maximum one month wait from an urgent referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment. Where patients wait longer, this should be because of the needs of the diagnostic process or their personal choice, not because of in-built delays in the system of care. We hope to achieve this goal by 2008.Current waiting times targets are milestones towards this. Data on achievement of current targets from urgent general practitioner referral to treatment for acute leukaemia, children's and testicular cancers and breast cancer and from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer, are published quarterly on the Department's website for strategic health authorities and trusts, at: http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits. Data on achievement of future cancer plan waiting times targets of one months from diagnosis to treatment and two months form urgent general practitioner referral to treatment for all cancers will be published once these targets have been implemented in 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the incidence of melanoma by (a) age group and (b) strategic health authority. [157800]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reasons he imposed a retrospective cut-off date for approvals for local capital projects proposed by primary care trusts; [157962](2) how many primary care trusts have informed his Department of the possible cancellation of local capital projects as a result of

Significant new revenue funding will be made available to support public and private capital investment in the primary care estate, based on local prioritisation of development proposals. Baseline allocations for 2004–05 have been notified to all primary care trusts, and these take account of new developments contractually agreed by 30 September 2003. This date was set to allow sufficient time fort robust baselines to be established and notified to PCTs. An additional element of growth funding to support prioritised developments contractually agreed after that date will be allocated to lead-PCTs.We are not aware that any schemes have been cancelled at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority the KT23 statistics for each year since 1996. [144757]

The available information is published in NHS Chiropody Services, Summary Information for 2002–03, England and is available in the Library and at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/kt 230203. The tables show England figures for 1996–97 to 2002–03 and strategic health authority (SHA) figures for 2002–03; SHAs came into existence in April 2002 and comparable data for earlier years are not readily available due to service reconfigurations.

Chiropody contacts, England, 1996–97 to 2002–03
England				Thousand
	Initial contacts (new episodes of care)	First contacts (different persons receiving care)	Total face-to- face contacts1
1996–97	966	2,447	8,352
1997–98	927	2,419	8,305
1998–99	878	2,362	8,054
1999–2000	853	2,317	7,895

Chiropody contacts, England, 1996–97 to 2002–03
England				Thousand
	Initial contacts (new episodes of care)	First contacts (different persons receiving care)	Total face-to -face contacts1
2000–01	837	2,264
2001–02	837	2,216
2002–03	826	2,161
1 The collection of data about total face-to-face contacts was discontinued from 1 April 2000
Source:
Form KT23

Chiropody contacts by strategic health authority, 2002–03
Thousand
Strategic health authority	Initial contacts (new episodes of care)	First contacts (different persons receiving care)
County Durham and Tees Valley	15.8	51.7
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear	22.7	79.7
Cheshire and Merseyside	51.6	117.9
Cumbria and Lancashire	35.7	110.5
Greater Manchester	59.1	172.8
North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire	23.4	83.1
South Yorkshire	24.6	77.2
West Yorkshire	33.8	126.9
Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland	33.8	53.1
Trent	43.9	112.8
Birmingham and the Black Country	62.2	125.3
Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcesters	21.1	72.5
Shropshire and Staffordshire	22.7	82.4
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire	15.3	49.1
Essex	14.4	42.3
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire	27.4	81.4
North Central London	17.2	43.1
North East London	27.4	46.9
North West London	22.4	64.7
South East London	34.9	61.1
South West London	17.1	50.4
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	22.1	48.4
Kent and Medway	23.3	58.7
Surrey and Sussex	30.8	84.0
Thames Valley	23.9	56.2
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire	41.7	89.0
Dorset and Somerset	23.6	38.8
South West Peninsula	34.1	81.5
Source:
Form KT23

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the prevalence of raised blood cholesterol in (a) men and (b) women in each region; and if he will make a statement. [154583]

Figures available from the Health Survey for England 1998 are shown in the table. In this survey, cholesterol was considered to be raised at a level of 6.5 mmo1/1 or over.

Prevalence of raised cholesterol by Government Office Region and sex—Adults 16+ with a valid sample
Raised cholesterol (percentage > =6.5mmol/l)					1998
Government Office Regions	Men (percentage)	Women (percentage)	Men (bases)	Women (bases)
North East	27.1	28.5	288	337
North West	16.9	20.7	669	720
Yorkshire and the Humber	17.9	22.5	531	591

Prevalence of raised cholesterol by Government Office Region and sex—Adults 16+with a valid sample
Raised cholesterol (percentage >=6.5mmol/l)					1998
Government Office Regions	Men (percentage)	Women (percentage)	Men (bases)	Women (bases)
West Midlands	20.3	23.8	492	589
East Midlands	14.8	21.7	453	483
East England	16.2	21.8	537	577
London	16.7	17.4	527	614
South East	19.6	24.2	810	945
South West	16.5	22.4	539	572
Source:
Health Survey for England, Department of Health

The quality indicators for the new general medical services contract include cholesterol management for patients with coronary heart disease. This will reinforce general practitioners' current work to deliver the quality standards set out in the national service framework for coronary heart disease, which are Driving the present trend in increasing statin prescriptions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to evaluate the continuing care criteria sent to his Department by strategic health authorities. [158639]

There are no plans to hold a centrally conducted evaluation of the fully funded National Health Service continuing care eligibility criteria of each strategic health authority (SHA). It is the responsibility of each SHA to be satisfied that its criteria meet the legal requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many detoxification beds for treatment as an inpatient are available in England and Wales. [150760]

The Department does not have data on the number of detoxification beds that are available for treatment as an in-patient in England.However, it is estimated that there are 157 in-patient services in England with detoxification beds.The number in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) attendances at accident and emergency and (b) admissions to hospital for fall-related injuries in people aged 60 years and over there have been in each year since 1997. [156645]

Centrally-held data on attendances at accident and emergency departments do not contain sufficient details to identify those who attended because of a fall. The number of people aged 60 and over who were admitted to national health service hospitals in England as a result of a fall is recorded in the Hospital Episode Statistics count of Finished Admission Episodes. The figures are shown in the table.

	Finished Admission Episodes (falls over 60)
1997–98	127,665
1998–99	127,817
1999–2000	118,567
2001–02	115,373
2002–03	120,356
Note:
A finished admission episode is the period of impatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Total episodes are only an approximation of the total number of in-patients, as a patient may have more than one admission in a year. Figures are adjusted to compensate for both coverage and missing or invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether planning permission has been granted for the proposed treatment centre at Fossetts Farm, Southend-on-Sea. [157528]

A planning application was logged with the landowners of the proposed site for the treatment centre at Fossetts Farm on 12 December 2003. This application will be reviewed by the local authority's planning committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient visits to general practitioners he estimates there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available [158213]

The most recent data show that there were an estimated 217 million consultations with general practitioners in England between April 2000 and March 2001, the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Drugs used for treating patients who are HIV positive; and if he will make a statement. [157483]

Combination anti-retroviral Drug therapies have proved very effective for the majority of people with HIV, in reducing the severity of symptoms and prolonging quality of life.The British HIV Association (BHIVA), the members of which include the majority of leading HIV/AIDS clinicians, has developed a detailed set of guidelines for the use and monitoring of combination anti-retroviral Drugs, and the regimens recommended by BHIVA are widely, accepted by the national health service. The guidelines, and their use by the NHS, are audited annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of (a) testing for HIV/AIDS and (b) treating HIV/AIDS patients in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [157484]

Information on the cost to the National Health Service of HIV and AIDS testing and treatment is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings to the NHS from (a) adults and (b) children using hospice services instead of hospital services. [157910]

No such estimates have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have closed lists for treatment. [155154]

The Department does not collect this information from national health service trusts.Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning sufficient activity from NHS trusts and other providers to meet the needs of their local population. The levels of activity required from NHS trusts should be specified in service agreements (SAs) and will represent a ceiling to the trusts' contractual obligations.Where there are no SAs in place or the activity levels specified in a SA have already been met by the trust, the PCT are responsible for commissioning additional activity to meet the needs of their patients.HSC 2002/007 (Securing Service Delivery: Commissioning Freedoms of Primary Care Trusts) and HSC 1998/198 (Commissioning in the new NHS), copies of which are in the Library, provide further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the incidence of hospital-acquired infection among women using maternity services; and if he will make a statement. [156284]

National information on the incidence of hospital-acquired infections amongst women using maternity services is not available. Options for collecting surveillance data are being kept under review and implementation of the Chief Medical Officer's report, "Winning Ways Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England", will help reduce infection rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffer dementia in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and how many are (i) under and (ii) over 65 years of age. [157090]

There is no routine collection of information at national or local level about the number of people living with dementia. The research quoted by the older people's national service framework in 2001 estimated that approximately 600,000 people in the United Kingdom have dementia of whom there are about 17,000 people under the age of 65.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions are in place on the import of mumps vaccine; and what volumes of vaccine have been imported in each month since January 2003. [155128]

Single mumps vaccines are unlicensed imported medicines. The importers of which are required to be licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Every importer must notify the MHRA on each occasion they intend importing an unlicensed medicine and there is a legal restriction on the maximum quantity they may import per notification (a maximum of 25 single administrations). This applies to all imported unlicensed medicines. Each notification is an intention to import and does not necessarily reflect the number of doses actually imported or used. The information on the actual number of doses imported is not held by the MHRA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which schools in the Manchester, Gorton constituency will benefit from the free fruit scheme. [156310]

The following 24 schools in Gorton are receiving fruit under the National School Fruit Scheme:

• Abbey Hey Infant School
• Acacias Primary School
• All Saints Primary School
• Alma Park Primary School
• Aspinal Primary School
• Birchfields Primary School
• Chapel Street Primary School
• Crowcroft Park Primary School
• Gorton Brook School
• Gorton Mount Primary School
• Old Hall Drive Primary School
• Richmond Park School
• Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Infant School Manchester
• St Andrew's CofE Primary School
• St Francis RC Primary School
• St James' CofE Primary School

• St John's CofE Primary School
• St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester
• St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School
• St Luke's CofE Primary School
• St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester
• St Richard's RC Primary School
• Stanley Grove Community Primary School
• Wilbraham Primary School

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the timetable is for extending the National School Fruit Scheme to all regions in England; [157603](2) when he will extend the National School Fruit Scheme to the South West Region. [157604]

[holding answer 1 March 2004]: The National School Fruit Scheme will entitle children aged four to six in local education authority maintained infant, primary and special schools to a free

Strategic health authority	Scheme (NHS hospital/Trust)	Value (£ million)
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire	Royal United Hospital Bath redevelopment	35
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire	United Bristol Hospital for Sick Children	19
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire	Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust	100
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire	Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust	15
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire	Royston, Buntingford and Bishop Stortford PCT	15
Birmingham and the Black Country	Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health	18
Birmingham and the Black Country	Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust	13
County Durham and Tees Valley	County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust—North Durham	61
County Durham and Tees Valley	County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust—Bishop Auckland	48
County Durham and Tees Valley	South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	122
County Durham and Tees Valley	County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals—Chester-le-Street	10
Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire	Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust	64
Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire	Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	87
Cumbria and Lancashire	Blackpool Victoria Hospital—Phase 5	27
Cumbria and Lancashire	North Cumbria Acute Hospitals (Cumberland Infirmary)	67
Essex	Basildon and Thurrock	21
Greater Manchester	South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust	67
Greater Manchester	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	24
Greater Manchester	Fairfield General—Bury	20
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	Southampton General Hospital—Cancer Care Unit	17
Kent and Medway	Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust	94
Kent and Medway	Swale PCT	14
Kent and Medway	Medway DGH Development	51
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire	Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust	158
North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire	Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust	22
North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire	Harrogate Healthcare NHS Trust	27
North Central London	Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MH unit)	21
North Central London	Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust	54
North East London	North East London Mental Health NHS Trust	11
North East London	East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust (Newham)	15
North East London	Homerton Hospital Acute Services	16
North West London	West London Mental Health NHS Trust	12
North West London	Bromley Healthcare NHS Trust	118
North West London	West Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust	60
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear	Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust (Wansbeck)	18
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear	Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust (Hexham)	29
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear	City Hospitals Sunderland	15
Shropshire and Staffordshire	North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust	28
South East London	Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust (Greenwich)	96
South East London	King's Healthcare NHS Trust	76
South East London	Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup	15
South East London	Oxleas	11
South West London	St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust	46
South West Peninsula	Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust (Bodmin)	10
South Yorkshire	Central Sheffield University Hospitals Stonegrove)	24

piece of fruit every school day. The scheme is already in operation in the West and East Midlands, London and the North West. Most eligible schools in the North East will join the scheme in March 2004 and the remainder in April. Schools in the remaining four regions will join the scheme during the autumn term 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) value and (b) number of all new hospitals built in each of the regions of England is in the last five years for which records are available. [156962]

The following table lists the new hospital schemes (all private finance initiative and public capital funded schemes over £10 million) which have opened within the last five years (since March 1999) and the strategic health authority (SHA) within which they are sited. 28 SHAs replaced the eight national health service executive regional offices in 2002).

Strategic health authority	Scheme (NHS hospital/Trust)	Value (£ million)
South Yorkshire	Central Sheffield University Hospitals (Cardiothoracic Unit)	15
Surrey and Sussex	West Sussex Health and Social Care	22
Surrey and Sussex	Guildford and Waverley PCT (Farnham)	29
Surrey and Sussex	Royal Sussex County Hospital	40
Thames Valley	Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust	45
Thames Valley	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust	30
Thames Valley	Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust	84
Trent	Queens Medical Centre—Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust	17
West Yorkshire	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust	65
West Yorkshire	Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust	47

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with recruitment of NHS dentists in Morecambe and Lunesdale. [156853]

From April 2005, primary care trusts will have a duty to secure the provision of primary dental services. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.3 billion financial resources currently held centrally. PCTs will in future be able to use these resources to meet local oral health needs.Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority reports that Morecambe Bay PCT is currently recruiting dentists to work in the dental access centres and other national health service premises in Morecambe Bay.

National Health Service—Number of dentists1 September each year
Health Authority	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Lancashire2	617	649	649	639	671	–
Ribble Valley and Fulwood3	190	201	195	200	210	–
Notes:
1 NHS dentists include dentists working in the General Dental Service (GDS), Hospital Dental Service (HDS), Community Dental Service (CDS), Personal Dental Service (PDS) and Salaried Dentists in the GDS. Dentist working in more than one dental service are included in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
2 The four former health authorities in Lancashire: Morecambe Bay, North West Lancashire, East Lancashire and South Lancashire.
3ast Lancashire Health Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tenders are being considered for the disposal of NHS property. [151124]

Commercially confidential discussions are still taking place and an announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were for (a) paediatric and (b) adolescent obesity treatment in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996. [156282]

The numbers of finished consultant episodes by age group in national healthservice hospitals in England, where the primary diagnosis is obesity, are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were in each year since 1997 in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley and Fulwood. [157093]

The information in the table shows the number of National Health Service dentists on a head count basis for the four former health authorities in Lancashire and for East Lancashire Health Authority, which covers Ribble Valley and Fulwood. The figures are at September each year from 1997 to 2001 and for Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority for September 2002.Information for September 2003 is not yet available.

	Paediatrics (1–12 years)	Adolescents (13–19 years)	Other (neonates, 20 + years)	Grand total
1996–97	105	49	692	846
1997–98	118	55	654	827
1998–99	159	66	863	1,088
1999–2000	153	80	866	1,099
2000–01	173	77	962	1,212
2001–02	181	89	878	1,148
2002–03	239	202	1,001	1,442
Source
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.