To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when combined heat and power was last discussed at the Sustainable Energy Policy Network; and if she will make a statement; [160222](2) what studies the Sustainable Energy Policy Network has commissioned on combined heat and power; and if she will make a statement; [160223](3) what

Within government Defra takes the lead for policy on combined heat and power (CHP) and CHP is regularly discussed at the monthly meetings of the Sustainable Energy Policy Programme Board.Since the publication of the Energy White Paper the Government have commissioned the following studies on combined heat and power:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to use combined heat and power to cut fuel poverty. [160090]

The Community Energy programme is a three-year £50 million UK-wide grant programme promoting community heating largely through the use of CHP. One of the aims of the programme is to help 100,000 people to heat their homes affordably. We hope that it will be possible to extend the programme beyond March 2005, but this is subject to resources being available.In the Energy White Paper we made a commitment to support field trials for micro-CHP. These trials, which are being conducted by the Carbon Trust, will help determine the fuel and carbon saving potential of micro-CHP in a range of applications. The results of the trials will help inform the development of any future support for the technology, including in fuel poor households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's combined heat and power strategy will be published. [160091]

We intend publishing the Government's CHP Strategy to 2010 after the Easter Recess, to coincide with the first year review of the Energy White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's progress in meeting its target to achieve 10GW of combined heat and power by 2010. [160092]

At the end of 2002, installed CHP capacity stood at 4,742MWe. More up to date data will become available when the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) is published in the summer by DTI. The measures to support CHP announced in the Energy White Paper, taken together with the measures we have previously introduced and detailed in the draft CHP Strategy, will significantly help CHP. We will set out the full range of support measures in the Government's Strategy for CHP to 2010, which we intend to publish after the Easter Recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policies her Department has introduced since the publication of the Energy White Paper to encourage investor confidence in the combined heat and power sector; and if she will make a statement. [160093]

Since last year's Energy White Paper we have been progressing delivery of the support measures for CHP set out therein. Before Christmas I set an ambitious target to source at least 15 per cent. of electricity for government use from Good Quality CHP by 2010. These Energy White Paper support measures, taken together with the measures we have previously introduced and detailed in the draft CHP Strategy, will significantly help CHP. We will set out the full range of support measures in the Government's Strategy for CHP to 2010, which we intend to publish after the Easter Recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the change in costs to local authorities of the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003. [159012]

Local authorities are making significant changes in their waste management practices to meet their current Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting and in anticipation of legally binding requirements under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled. It is too early to tell whether the requirements of the Household Waste Recycling Act will impose costs in excess of those being incurred to meet the aforementioned targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with local government on local authority performance on waste recycling. [159006]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not held any specific discussions with local government on local authority waste recycling performance recently.I will follow up my predecessor's correspondence with local authorities whose progress towards meeting their recycling and composting targets was judged to be of most concern. once data on local authority recycling performance for 2003–04 are available, in summer 2004, and those failing to meet those targets have been identified.There is regular discussion on local authority waste management issues, including performance, between Defra and the Local Government Association (LGA) officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of local authority performance on (a) waste recycling and (b) waste disposal. [159010]

In December 2003 the Audit Commission published information on local authorities waste and recycling performance as part of its Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI)data for2002–03 These data supplement local authorities own projections of their 2003–04 performance and provide an indication of local authorities movement towards their statutory performance standards. It suggests that England is within reach of its 2003–04 national target of 17 per cent.Local authorities actual performance for 2003–04 will be known when the BVPI figures are published in December 2004.The Waste Implementation Programme, as part of its approach to targeted support, is identifying those authorities facing barriers to improved performance and how these might be overcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Euratom Treaty Article 35 verification visits to (a) Sellafield and (b) Dounreay to take place; and if she will make a statement on the arrangements for these inspection visits. [161161]

The European Commission undertook an Article 35 verification visit to Sellafield from 8–12 March. We understand the Commission is contemplating a visit to Dounreay within the next year or so, but no date has been fixed.The arrangements for the Sellafield visit were made by the Department in co-operation with BNFL, the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency. The Scottish Executive would be responsible for the arrangements for a visit to Dounreay in co-operation with UKAEA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and FSA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the change in support which will result from the introduction of single farm payment to farmers in severely disadvantaged areas. [160491]

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 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) severely disadvantaged areas and (b) number of farmers in each. [160492]

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. The Severely Disadvantaged Areas are defined on an England basis and are as such treated as one entity. There are approximately 7,400 agricultural holdings wholly within the SDA and another 7,300 that straddle the boundary. The SDA are defined in statutory maps and in England lie within the following constituencies:

• Barnsley West and Penstone 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 ard 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 what her policy is towards providing assistance to farmers in severely disadvantaged areas following the introduction of the single farm payment. [160493]

Eligible farmers in severely disadvantaged areas will receive the single farm payment, and will continue to be eligible for other schemes such as the Hill Farm Allowance and the agri-environment schemes (which are currently being reviewed). The need for assistance to these or other areas will need to be re-examined in the context of the new EU Rural Development Regulation which will come into effect in 2007, and the changing needs of sustainable development in the uplands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the financial cost would be of restricting single farm payment at the lower rate to farmers in the hill farm allowance area rather than to all farmers in the severely disadvantaged areas.[160494]

The aggregate subsidy available for the single farm payment in England is not affected by the definition of the English regions for allocating entitlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will rescind her decision to pay single farm payment at a lower rate to all farmers in severely disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement. [160495]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, made her decision in the best interests of the industry as a whole while recognising that there will be individual winners and losers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made (a) in the Council of Ministers and (b) to the European Commission to include the minimum values legislation in the proposed EU regulation on the protection of animals during transport; and if she will make a statement. [159500]

Minimum values rules apply to certain types of working horses if they are exported for work and to ponies, but not to the majority of horses. It has been confirmed by the Commission in response to an Opposition MEP that such a restriction on the free movement of horses is unacceptable and this is consistent with our own legal advice and the understanding of horse welfare organisations in the UK. That is why we have instead developed an equivalent, welfare based alternative in collaboration with equine organisations. Our wishes have been included in the draft welfare in transport regulation, now before the Council of Agriculture Ministers. We have no intention of relaxing the application of the minimum values rules until the new arrangements are in place. It should be noted that they will have wider application to the welfare of horses within the United Kingdom and across Europe including the accession states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) biosecurity and (b) other mechanisms are available to farmers to prevent badger damage to forage crops. [157856]

Electric fences provide the best defence against short-term seasonal damage to crops.Advice on using electric fences to protect crops is given in the Defra leaflet 'Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage' (TAN 15). This can be obtained from the Defra website (at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/ leaflets.htm) or by contacting the National Wildlife Management Team (Tel: 0845 6014523, local rate).Additional detailed, technical information is available in the 'Electric Fence Reference Manual' (Research and Development Surveillance Report 607), which is also available to download from the Defra website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cash value of damage done to growing maize by badgers was in the last year for which figures are available. [157927]

There is no national estimate of the financial value of damage done to growing maize by badgers.A survey of badger damage to agricultural properties in England and Wales was conducted in 1997 based on 1,982 farmer questionnaire returns (out of a sample of 3,600 farmers).Crop damage was reported by 21 per cent. of respondents with wheat, forage maize and vines being damaged most frequently. 69 respondents reported badger damage to maize. The mean percentage of maize crops damaged, based on estimates provided by the respondents, was 5 per cent., with a maximum of 20 per cent. Reports of damage to maize were concentrated in August and September.Damage assessments of eight maize fields known to be used by badgers recorded an average of 114 unharvestable maize cobs per hectare. Forage maize crops protected by electric fencing sustained 96 per cent. less damage than unprotected crops (advice on electric fencing is given in the Defra leaflet TAN 15 'Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage', which is available from the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/leaflets.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports her Department has received of predation by badgers on newly born lambs. [157928]

The Department does not keep a record of such reports. The only records kept relate to applications for licences under Section 10(2)(b) of the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992.Since April 2001, when computerised records were introduced, there have been four applications alleging lamb predation by badgers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is of undertaking the National Badger Survey; and from which departmental budget it is financed. [157940]

The most recent national badger survey, which was carried out in the mid-1990s¹ by scientists from the University of Bristol, was funded by The People's Trust for Endangered Species. The Trust is a Registered Charity (No. 274206).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been collated on localised effects on ground nesting bird populations of badger predation; and which localities have been affected. [157944]

Evidence has been gathered on the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds as part of a Defra funded project investigating the ecological consequences of badger removal. Some of this work has been conducted in treatment areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). Evidence collated so far includes an exhaustive review of the published literature, and experimental field research using artificial bird nests. The results of these studies will be presented to Defra in March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether increased farm biosecurity in areas of high badger population (a) deprives badgers of a high value food source and (b) increases predation on other wildlife. [157952]

Cereal grains and many plant fibres pass through the badger's digestive system relatively unchanged, and may therefore, often represent low-value food sources. Work by the Central Science Laboratory at Woodchester Park showed that badgers were significantly more likely to visit farm buildings, to exploit such foods, during periods of low rainfall when alternative natural food items such as earthworms were less available. Other mammals and birds form a relatively small part of the diet of badgers in the UK, and there is no evidence to suggest that increased farm biosecurity would result in increased badger predation on such wildlife.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent badger groups are distinct entities; whether mixing occurs between social groups; and under what circumstances. [157988]

In much of Great Britain, badgers live in social groups within defined territories which the groups defend. However, mixing between groups is common. Individuals make foraging and breeding forays into neighbouring territories. Temporary and permanent dispersal from one group to another also occurs regularly. Details of movement rates at the Central Science Laboratory's Woodchester Park study area can be found in Rogers, L. M., Delahay, R. J., Cheeseman, C. L., I angton, S., Smith, G. C. and Clifton-Hadley, R. (1998) Movement of badgers ("Meles males") in a high density population: Individual, population and disease effects. "Proceedings of the Royal Society (Series B)", 265, 1269–1276.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent and under what circumstances non-resident badgers will visit setts inhabited by social groups to which they do not belong; and whether this represents a significant opportunity for the spread of TB between badger social groups. [157989]

The most common reason for visits by badgers to setts within other socia1 groups is likely to be breeding forays by males. This close contact between individuals from different groups is likely to represent an opportunity for the inter-group spread of TB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the (a) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and (b) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on the welfare of badgers. [157993]

The information requested is as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 523W, on badgers, what the scientific basis is of her view of the national impact of badgers on bird populations. [158212]

As responded in my previous answer, badgers are known to predate on ground nesting birds. The impact of such predation at a national level is not quantified but is not thought to significantly affect populations nationally. As I have previously replied, Defra is currently funding research aimed at providing a scientifically vigorous assessment of the importance of badger predation on ground nesting birds. The Central Science Laboratory is due to report its findings in March 2005. Until that time I cannot give a definitive answer of the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures can be taken to disinfect badger setts after the clearance of TB-infected inhabitants. [157929]

Although several methods have been discussed in the past, including bactericidal fumigants and napalm, there are no feasible measures to disinfect badger setts currently available. The size and complexity of sett structure, and the propensity of badgers to re-excavate setts soon after destruction, precludes the efficacy of any of these methods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether specific TB spoligotypes are more prevalent in badgers than they are in (a) bovines and (b) other reservoirs. [157931]

As, in GB, only a very small proportion of the national badger population and an even smaller proportion of other wildlife species susceptible to bovine TB have been assessed by the spoligotyping technique, it is not possible to provide a meaningful comparison of specific TB spoligotyping prevalences for these three defined populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether instances of the detection of multiple TB spoligotypes in single herds have been reported to her Department. [157932]

There are many instances where more than one spoligotype has been isolated from a single herd during the same incident. A project (an integrated approach to the application of "Mycobacterium bovis genotyping" for the control of bovine tuberculosis in GB), funded by thee Department, is investigating such data sets; the project is due to end next September and the final report should be available shortly afterwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reliability of the badger TB ELISA test in determining infection in individual badgers. [157941]

The indirect ELISA for badgers was evaluated using blood samples collected from 1982 badgers killed during statutory badger removal operations in 1991 to 1993. The sensitivity of the test was 40.7 per cent. and the specificity 94.3 per cent.. The positive predictive value (the percentage of positive test results where the animal was confirmed as infected) of the test was 67.5 per cent., the negative predictive value (the percentage of negative test results where the animal was confirmed as uninfected) 84.6 per cent.. A project (development of immunological assays for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers), funded by the Department, is investigating this area. The project is due to end in March 2005 and the final report should be available shortly afterwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) existing treatments for TB in (i) cattle and (ii) badgers and (b) the potential for developing new treatments. [157959]

Cattle which are suspected of being affected with tuberculosis must be slaughtered in accordance with the requirements of The Tuberculosis England and Wales Order 1984. Treatment of cattle affected with tuberculosis in cattle is prohibited by the same Order.If badgers are found in a debilitated condition, which may have been caused by tuberculosis, they may be humanely destroyed to prevent further suffering. There are no circumstances under which antibiotic treatment of badgers with clinical signs would be advisable.The possibility of vaccinating cattle or badgers to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis, is part of the wide ranging TB research programme being carried out by Defra.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent the requirements for the development of BCG vaccination regimes for badgers have been satisifed. [157990]

Collaborative research with the Republic of Ireland has shown that parenteral BCG vaccination provides a degree of protection against experimental challenge with "Mycobacterium bovis" in badgers. Progress has also been made in developing immunological tests to detect tuberculosis infection in badgers. Work is under way to identify a feasible and appropriate strategy for delivery of BCG, probably in an oral formulation, to wildlife populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best estimate is of how long it will take to develop a suitable badger vaccine to the point where field trials may be undertaken. [157991]

Over the next three-year period, it is proposed to carry out a field experiment to determine the impact of BCG on natural transmission of tuberculosis in badgers, and to optimise vaccine delivery strategies for wildlife. We will then be in a position to carry out a field trial of the impact of badger vaccination on herd breakdown. The size and duration of such a trial could be on a scale similar to that of the randomised badger culling trial.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an application has been made for European Union funding to assist in the development of badger TB vaccines. [157992]

An application was submitted to the EU to support badger vaccination in 1995. The referees comments indicated that they considered this to be a problem restricted to UK and the Republic of Ireland and not of general benefit across member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the infective dose range for badgers in respect of M. bovis is in terms of the different portals of entry. [158003]

Post mortem examination of naturally infected wild badgers suggests the aerogenic route is the primary route of infection. Currently, experimental infection studies in the Republic of Ireland are underway which may provide information about infective dose via the endobronchial route.The other significant route of infection for wild badgers is via direct inoculation with infected saliva through bite wounding. The number of organisms required to establish tuberculosis via this route is unknown although previous experimental work showed that intradermal inoculation with approximately 1,000 organisms could result in generalised tuberculosis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether bovine TB is a natural feature of the ecosystem inhabited by badgers. [158004]

Diseases are often natural components of ecosystems and, as such, may play an important role in ecological processes. Badgers, however, inhabit a largely artificial habitat consisting mainly of managed landscapes, particularly for pastoral agriculture. It is this close association with grazing cattle that may have first brought badgers into contact with bovine TB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for how many years a breeding badger sow can excrete M. bovis bacilli; how many progeny a sow on average produces each year; and how many infected progeny a single female can produce in its lifetime. [158017]

Typically, an infected badger may excrete M. bovis bacilli for 12–15 months before death, although there are recorded cases of animals with TB living up to nine years. Litter size per sow varies from one to five with an average of three but, generally, only one or two sows per social group will breed each year. It cannot be assumed that an infected sow will infect all its progeny. Assuming, however, that a breeding sow gives birth each year, an animal excreting M. bovis for 12–15 months could, theoretically, produce between one and ten infected cubs. It should also be noted that 50 to 70 per cent. of cubs die within their first year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 219W, on bovine TB, whether provision has been made for the changing values of individual cattle according to (a) market circumstances and (b) the status of animals; and whether farmers will be allowed constantly to update the values registered with her Department. [158258]

In a consultation document on the Rationalisation of Compensation for Notifiable Animal Diseases, issued on 24 October 2003, it was proposed that compensation would be payable according to table valuations based on market prices to be published monthly, although provision would be made for individual valuations by an approved valuer to be registered at any time before the issue of a notice of intention to slaughter.The responses to the consultation document are still being considered and no decisions have yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on the effect of predator control on the sustainability of ground nesting bird populations. [158023]

Ground nesting birds can be predated on by a variety of other species. There have been relatively few studies of the effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations. A recent review of studies (Cote, I. M. and Sutherland, W.J. 1997, The effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations Conservation Biology 11: 395–405) concluded that the studies indicated that the removal of predators had a large, positive effect on the hatching success and post-breeding population sizes of target bird species but not on breeding population size, the effects on which varied considerably between studies. Whilst predator control may thus be a useful tool for game managers, it may not meet the requirements of those seeking to increase the size of bird breeding populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to eliminate all agricultural export subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy; and if she will make a statement. [160561]

The World Trade Organisation Doha Declaration commits all member countries to negotiations aimed at reductions with a view to phasing out, all forms of agricultural export subsidies. The Government fully supports this commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1149–51W, on single farm payments, what (a) assessment and (b) economic analyses were (i) conducted and (ii) completed (A) before and (B) after her statement to the House on 12 February 2004.[160915]

Numerous economic analyses of the single farm payment have been undertaken over recent months and work is still on-going. These are being drawn together into a single comprehensive document which will be made available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to refuse permission for the planting of GM crops in the UK until after (a) a co-existence regime to prevent contamination of non-GM crops and (b) a liability regime to determine who must pay damages for harm caused by GM crops has been approved by both Houses of Parliament. [158275]

The Government have been considering the report on these issues by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission and we will set out our thinking shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that new scientific evidence from Norway on the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter is taken into account before a decision is taken on the seed listing of Chardon LL fodder maize. [160572]

The reported new scientific evidence from Norway on the cauliflower mosaic virus promoter has yet to be published. When the details of this research do become available, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), which advises the Government on the risks posed by the intentional release of GMOs, will be asked to evaluate these data and advise on their implications for existing consents and future applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was informed that (a) the transgenic insert used in Chardon LL is unstable and (b) the variety would be incapable of passing the distinctiveness, uniformity and stability test under Directive 2001/18/EC. [160573]

Chardon LL is a variety of the genetically modified maize known as T25. I understand that the Belgian Competent Authority under Directive 2001/18/ EC has published an analysis of the structure of the transgenic insert in GM maize T25 and that this was considered by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) at their meeting on 22 January 2004. ACRE advised that they needed to see the full detail of the Belgian reassessment before coming to a final view and this has been requested from the Belgian Competent Authority. However, their preliminary analysis was that the work did not necessarily indicate instability of the insert, but consisted of additional information available now due to recent improvements in methods for the analysis of transformation events.The requirement for distinctness, uniformity and stability testing falls under Directive 2002/53/EC and not 2001/18/EC. Chardon LL underwent such testing in France, according to internationally recognised methods and the protocol adopted by the Community Plant Variety Office, as required by the EU legislation. Chardon LL was found to be distinct, uniform and stable by the French testing authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the Chardon LL feeding trial involving broiler chickens in relation to the health and safety of GMHT fodder maize. [160578]

The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) carried out a comprehensive review of the risks posed by the marketing and use of Bayer GM maize T25 (Chardon LL) in response to concerns raised in the Chardon LL public hearing on seed listing. Their advice was published in December 2002. The Committees concluded that there is no evidence from the broiler chicken feeding study that suggests that T25 maize grain fed to animals would pose an increased risk compared with conventional maize grain. However, ACRE advised that the raw data from the chicken feeding study should be re-analysed to maximise its value/power in comparing the nutritional value of T25 maize grain with that of a non-GM counterpart. The results of this further analysis did not alter the conclusion about the risk posed by this GM maize but slightly increased the power of the study in the extent to which it can resolve any differences between chickens fed GM maize grain and those fed non-GM maize grain. For more detailed comments please refer to ACRE'S advice on Chardon LL maize at http://defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/advice/advice20d.htm, this is also available in the parliamentary Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has communicated the shortcomings of the farm-scale evaluation maize trials to the lead competent authority in France, as required by Directive 2001/18/EC; and whether she has requested a variation in the conditions attached to the Part C consent for Chardon LL fodder maize. [160579]

I am not aware of any shortcomings of the farm-scale evaluation (FSE) maize trials, the results have been endorsed by both the Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the evaluations and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Officials sent the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations, together with the non-specialist and scientific summaries, to the European Commission and the Competent Authorities of the member states for their information on 20 and 21 October 2003. ACRE published its advice on the FSE results on 13 January 2004, and this advice was also sent to the Commission and the Competent Authorities on that date. On 9 March 2004 officials wrote to the French Competent Authority, which issued the relevant consent on behalf of all EU member states, seeking amendments to the consent for Bayer T25 GM maize (Chardon LL) to limit herbicide use with the crop in line with ACRE'S advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was informed that the dry matter content for Chardon LL averages 27.3 per cent. [160619]

The Secretary of State was made aware in March 2003 of a range of issues raised in the public hearing on Chardon, including its dry matter content. The lower than average dry matter content in the performance trials was taken into account, but the conclusion on overall value for cultivation and use rightly took the other important characteristics into consideration. These included better than average dry matter yield, early vigour and resistance to lodging.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what discussions she has had with biotechnology companies; and what timetable she has set for the establishment of a compensation scheme for farmers and growers adversely affected by the growing of GM crops. [161662]

[holding answer 16 March 2004]: We have said that we will consult stakeholders on options for providing compensation to non-GM farmers who suffer financially through no fault of their own. Until that consultation exercise has been completed it is too soon to say what the outcome might be. We will consult on this and the co-existence issue as soon as possible. Clearly, discussions with the biotechnology companies will be a necessary part of the consultation process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what support she will give to (a) areas, (b) zones, (c) local authorities, (d) regions and (e) nations which are seeking to achieve GM free status; and what discussions she plans to have with her counterparts in EU member states to assist in clarifying the (i) powers and (ii) responsibilities of places which seek to declare such status. [161663]

[holding answer 16 March 2004]: This issue has already been discussed within the EU. It is clear that under EU law it is not possible to impose blanket GM-free status on a compulsory or statutory basis at any geographic level. The Government is not seeking to promote GM-free status, but we have said that we will provide guidance to farmers who may want to establish voluntary zones in which GM crops are not cultivated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what rules she plans to put in place in the coming months. [161664]

[holding answer 16 March 2004]: As the statement confirmed, we envisage that measures to facilitate the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops will be in place before Any commercial GM cultivation. Our intention is that GM producers should observe a code of practice on co-existence which has statutory backing, based on the 0.9 per cent. EU labelling threshold for adventitious GM presence. We will consult in clue course on the details of this, on whether a lower GM threshold might apply for organic production, and on options for compensating non-GM farmers who suffer financially because a GM presence exceeds statutory thresholds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department is working to make new parents aware of the environmental implications of using disposable nappies. [159094]

[holding answer 9 March 2004]: The Waste and Resources Action Programme has a waste minimisation programme which includes work to ensure parents are given sufficient information to make an informed choice on whether to use re-usable or disposable nappies. This involves, among other things, the employment of a health professional to undertake work in maternity units.The Environment Agency is undertaking a Life Cycle Analysis to assess the environmental impacts of both reusable and disposable nappies. The aim is to publish this in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions she has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and (c) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority about proposals by the latter to transfer low level radioactive waste from Dounreay to Drigg; why the application for a licence was not advertised in England; and if she will make a statement: [160504](2) whether she has agreed to proposals by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to transfer radioactive waste from Dounreay to Drigg in Cumbria. [160505]

[holding answer 15 March 2004]: The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) about these proposals.The low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal site at Drigg in Cumbria is owned by BNFL and is operated by the company on a commercial basis as a United Kingdom facility. BNFL hold an authorisation from the Environment Agency to dispose of LLW at Drigg. I understand that the proposed transfer of waste from Dounreay to Drigg could be accommodated within BNFL's existing authorisation for the site. I also understand that the consultation arrangements adopted in this case were consistent with those for other such transfers to Drigg from sites tin oughout the United Kingdom. It was not, therefore, considered necessary by the regulators to advertise this application in England.I understand from the Environment Agency that they intend to carry out a comprehensive review of BNFL's authorisation for Drigg later this year. As part of this review, full public consultations will be undertaken.The application by UKAEA to transfer LLW to Drigg has been made to SEPA, whose responsibility it is to determine the application under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, subject to the powers of Scottish Ministers. Given that Drigg is operated as a United Kingdom facility and that its existing authorisation is sufficient to cover the proposed transfer, it is not necessary for the Secretary of State to be involved in determining UKAEA's current application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cumulative savings that her Department will achieve over financial years 2003–04 to 2012–13 by changing the basis on which compensation is paid to farmers for animals slaughtered. [157951]

The responses to the consultation document on the Rationalisation of Compensation for Notifiable Animal Diseases are still being considered and no decisions have yet been taken. It is therefore too early to determine whether any savings will be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what proportion of UK housing stock has been tested for radon gas; [159891](2) how many houses have been tested for radon gas in each of the last seven years; [159892](3) what plans she has to encourage the testing of the remainder of UK housing stock for radon gas. [159893]

[holding answer 11 March 2004]: Since 1987 successive Governments have run a radon measurement programme to identify the extent of the radon problem in the UK. During that time 450 thousand of the 25 million UK homes have been tested. Over the last eight years Government-funded measurement programmes have mainly focused on homes likely to be at most risk. In England and Northern Ireland, for example, that has meant every home with a greater than 5 per cent. probability of radon levels being at or above the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB) recommended radon "Action Level" (200 becquerels per cubic metre of air) has been offered a free radon test. In accordance with NRPB's recommendation, we advise that remedial action is taken to reduce radon levels in any home at or above the Action Level. It is estimated that over 100,000 homes in the UK are likely to be at or above the Action Level and, of those, around 43,000 have been found. Approximately 90 per cent. of the homes above the Action Level are likely to be in England.The following table sets out the number of homes tested by NRPB for radon gas in the UK since 1996 up to the present date. The figures from 1998 onwards include radon tests that have been offered to householders as part of pilot studies and a wider ongoing programme where the Government are working in partnership with nearly 30 local authorities in England to help householders in radon-affected areas to take action to cut levels of radon in their homes. This supports the Government's policy of encouraging more radon remediation amongst householders in order to reduce the risk that high radon levels pose to their health. The pilot studies run between 1998 and 2000 showed that working at a local level worked well and could double the amount of radon remediation. This success led to the rolling out of the current programme based on the experiences and lessons learned from the pilot studies. We shall be reviewing the initiative before it ends in March 2005 to allow us to determine how successful it has been. We will then make a judgment on the future direction of the Government's radon programme.In Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment is continuing to make free radon tests available to householders in areas where radon concentrations in homes have a 1 per cent. or greater probability of being at or above the Action Level. In addition, radon awareness campaigns will be conducted in selected areas of Northern Ireland in partnership with local authorities. These will target areas where there is a greater than 10 per cent. probability of radon levels in a home exceeding the Action Level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation has been undertaken by her Department and the Export Credits Guarantee Department on the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project in relation to its potential impacts upon the Western Gray Whale. [158234]

I have discussed the Sakhalin II project, particularly in relation to its potential impacts upon the Western Gray Whale population, with the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mike O'Brien.The Export Credit Guarantee Department has consulted with the Sakhalin Energy Group at all stages of the project application. In addition, ECGD officials have met and corresponded with a range of stakeholders and NGO's from both Sakhalin and the UK. Defra has been kept informed of these consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated population was of (a) voles and (b) hedgehogs in Great Britain in 1990; and what the current estimate of the population is. [158010]

Very few data are available on national populations of many mammal species, including voles and hedgehogs. Perhaps the best recent estimates are those made in a publication by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in 1995^1. At that time they made the following estimates:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the operators of the Channel Tunnel rail services; and if he will make a statement.[161697]

Officials hold regular meetings with parties involved in the Channel Tunnel industry to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether each agency in the Department for Transport has disciplinary procedures which comply with (a) the ACAS handbook on discipline and grievances at work and (b) the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. [161048]

The disciplinary procedures used in the Department for Transport and its Agencies are considered to be compliant with both the ACAS Handbook and Code of Practice. However it is planned to review the procedures to ensure compliance with the revised ACAS Code of Practice that takes effect from 1 October 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent (a) settling and (b) contesting claims registered at employment tribunals since the beginning of 2003 in the Department for Transport for (i) race discrimination, (ii) sex discrimination, (iii) disability discrimination, (iv) unfair dismissal and (v) equal pay.[161046]

In 2003 the Department for Transport (excluding Executive Agencies) was the Respondent in the following Employment Tribunal cases:

Equal Pay—10 cases—the total cost of these cases was £;44,244.78 made up of 1 Treasury Solicitors and Counsels costs;

Disability Discrimination— I case—total costs £;3,350 made up of Treasury Solicitors costs only;

Race Discrimination—3 cases (with 2 originating from the same applicant)—total costs £;16,220.73 made up of Treasury Solicitors and Counsels fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport infrastructure improvement schemes for which he is responsible in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough; and what their projected cost is. [158407]

Most transport infrastructure improvement schemes in London are now the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). Those for which the Secretary of State retains some responsibility are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce requirements for (a) eyesight tests, (b) a road test and road awareness programme, (c) a requirement to have insurance, (d) a set maintenance standard and (e) training and testing, for people wishing to drive motorised scooters and if he will make a statement.[161966]

Motorised scooters are motor vehicles within the meaning of Section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and are therefore already subject to road traffic law. To be used on the road they must comply with construction regulations and meet registration, road tax, insurance and MOT testing requirements. The rider is required to hold an appropriate driver licence and wear a suitable motorcycle helmet.This does not apply to Class 2 and 3 Invalid Carriages which are defined as "not being a motor vehicle" for certain parts of Road Traffic Law. We believe that most users of these vehicles operate them safely but a review of the law is needed. The review is due to be completed during the summer. Decisions will then be taken about whether any changes are required to the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts, and of what value, the Strategic Rail Authority has placed with Steer Davies Gleave in each of the last five years. [161794]

The information is provided in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days have been lost owing to stress in (a) the Department for Transport and (b) Transec Division. [161047]

In 2003 for the centre of the Department for Transport (excluding the Executive Agencies) 2,206 days were recorded with 'stress/anxiety/ depression' given as the reason for absence. For Transport Security Directorate, 349 days were recorded under this heading during 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in costs of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus in each year since 1974, taking 1974 as a base figure of 100, and discounting inflation. [160584]

The following table shows the information requested on real changes in the cost of transport as indices based on 1974=100. The information is available in Transport Statistics Great Britain, although the current edition does not include 2003 data and is based to 1992=100.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with the Way to Go campaign. [161193]

The Government are committed to developing a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system fit for the 21st century. The Way to Go campaign raises a number of important issues about how our transport system can better serve people's needs. Many of the transport schemes being implemented across the country are those advocated by the Way to Go campaign. Our plans will deliver over £180 billion of public and private money across all forms of transport over the 10 years to 2010, a 45 per cent. real terms increase over the previous decade.

To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of providing substantive answers to written parliamentary questions where he concludes that to provide such answers would be detrimental to the work of Government. [162307]

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 849W.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for reform of the United Nations Charter to allow the United Nations greater rights (a) to intervene within the territory of member states and (b) otherwise to override their sovereignty. [162309]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 38W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has drawn for Scotland from the writings of the Government Chief Scientist on climate change. [160371]

The Government Chief Scientist's article in the journal Science in January 2004 concluded that the evidence for man-made climate change was convincing and could not be ignored. The Government shares that view, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to my hon. Friend on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1655W.The Government are committed to making significant reductions in emissions of the greenhouse gases which cause man-made climate change. The UK Climate Change Programme sets out a number of measures to reduce such emissions; the UK programme includes the Scottish Executive's Climate Change Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158167]

The Scotland Office employs three press officers, one of whom is part time, who are current members of the Government Information and Communications Service. The office also has one special adviser. The Special Adviser's Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. No other staff are employed in the communications field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG. [156888]

No former officials of the Scotland Office have asked for permission to join these organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG have made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks. [156913]

No secondments have been made between the Scotland Office and these organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff the Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; what percentage this is of total staff employed; and how much the Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in (a) 2001–02, (b)2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [158245]

The Scotland Office currently employs two temporary staff. This comprises 2.3 per cent. of total staff employed.Details of payments to employment agencies for temporary staff are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the current talks about the future of the Belfast agreement. [160824]

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said last week, after the St . Patrick's Day break the two Governments will be seeking to inject fresh momentum into the dialogue between the political parties, with a view to securing early movement on an end to paramilitarism and the return of devolved government. The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach will visit Northern Ireland next Tuesday for discussions with the parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had on the restoration of devolution in the Province. [160825]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave previously to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on arms decommissioning. [160826]

Four acts of decommissioning have taken place to date—one carried out by the LVF and three by PIRA. The latest decommission act occurred on 21 October 2003 in which the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning confirmed they witnessed a third event in which IRA weapons were put beyond use. The quantity of arms involved was larger than the quantity put beyond use in the previous event.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on job prospects in Strangford. [160827]

Residents based claimant rates indicate that in January 2004 unemployment in the Strangford constituency stood at 3.6 per cent. However, the hon. Lady will be aware of the recent announcement locally that TKECC is to close with the loss of 550 jobs. Invest NIs Local Office team is working with other Government Departments to facilitate retraining and other employment-related options for the work force. Since April 2002 Invest NI has offered client companies in the constituency over £3 million assistance towards investment of over £12 million. In addition it has supported 270 business start-ups and continues to work in close partnership with the local councils in support of their economic development activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the expansion of higher education in Northern Ireland. [160828]

Since 1999 there has been an increase of over 4,000 in the number of full time equivalent student places in Northern Ireland. This year we will be increasing provision by an additional 330 places and are also considering a substantial increase in places on specialist medical and social working training courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the development of the Northern Ireland economy since the Good Friday agreement. [160829]

Since the Good Friday agreement was signed, the number of employee jobs has reached record levels, increasing by 61,550 from March 1998 to December 2003. Claimant count unemployment at 4.1 per cent. of the work force is at its lowest rate since the mid 1970s and growth in Gross Value Added of 13 per cent. between 1998 and 2001 makes Northern Ireland one of the fastest growing UK regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Burns report on post-primary education; and if he will make a statement. [160830]

Following extensive consultation on the Burns report, I established the Post-Primary Review Working Group to consider the responses to the consultation and provide advice about future post-primary arrangements. On 26 January 2004, I announced that I had accepted the Working Group's recommendations, and work has started on implementing these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislation or regulations prevent diabetes sufferers from serving as ambulance drivers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [161349]

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (as amended) prescribes insulin-dependent diabetes as a relevant disability in respect of the issue of Group 2 licences (i.e. those that authorise the driving of passenger carrying vehicles and large goods vehicles).In light of this, and in accordance with Article 9(3) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (as amended) the Department of the Environment must not grant such a licence to a person who suffers from such a disability.In addition, it is the opinion of The Secretary of State for Transport's Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes that drivers with insulin-treated diabetes should not drive emergency vehiclesA person whose diabetes is treated by diet alone or by diet and tablets are allowed to hold such a licence provided they are otherwise in good health.In order to be employed as an Ambulance person within Northern Ireland Ambulance Service there is an essential requirement to hold a full and clean driving licence, which includes Categories CI (to drive minibuses) and Dl (to drive vehicles over 3½ tonnes).In the past where it has come to the attention of the NI Ambulance Service that an employee has developed diabetes, it has redeployed the employee from driving duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautions have been taken to counter an outbreak of avian influenza in Northern Ireland. [160617]

Following the introduction of EU restrictions on imports of poultry meat and poultry products from Thailand on 23 January, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), as a precautionary measure, suspended all imports of live poultry, poultry meat products, captive birds, pet birds and eggs for human consumption from Asian countries most affected by avian influenza. Equivalent action was also taken following a further outbreak of avian influenza in the USA in February and the same action is currently under way for the outbreak in Canada.As regards the animal health aspects, DARD has a contingency plan for dealing with an outbreak of avian influenza, which has been approved by the EU. This plan is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure that any outbreak could be dealt with quickly and effectively. Advice regarding biosecurity has been reissued to the poultry industry and is available on the DARD website.As regards the human health aspects, the Department of Health and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in conjunction with DARD and other UK Health Departments, is continuing to monitor international developments in relation to the transmission of avian influenza to humans. DHSSPS has placed information for travellers on their website and has been working with DARD and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to ensure protection of poultry workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's meeting with representatives of Belfast City Airport on 10 March. [161347]

The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the City Airport's request for a review of the existing Planning Agreement, to determine the issues involved in such a review and to discuss a possible way forward.The City Airport representatives have agreed to submit details of their proposals and their possible implications for the current Planning Agreement to the Planning Service, probably within two months. A further meeting will then be arranged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many birth defects there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999. [1606221]

Information on all birth defects is not available. However, information is collected by the Chief Medical Officer on the number of children born each year suffering from a number of selected congenital malformations in Northern Ireland. This information for the years 1999 to 2003 is as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 836W, on ceasefire breaches, what criteria he uses to assess whether there has been a breach of a ceasefire by a paramilitary group; and how many times since January these criteria have been met by the actions of the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) UDA and (c) UVF. [161469]

Section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 sets out the criteria which the Secretary of State takes account of in making a judgement on the status of a ceasefire. The Secretary of State makes a judgement in the round. The ceasefires of the Provisional IRA and the UVF are recognised, the ceasefire of the UDA is not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether citizenship ceremonies taking place in Northern Ireland will follow exactly the same format as in the rest of the United Kingdom. [161397]

The Home Office has set out a basic format for a citizenship ceremony but they will vary from place to place throughout the United Kingdom, both to account for numbers of applicants and the incorporation of local features.In Northern Ireland, the ceremonies will be held in Hillsborough Castle and will be conducted by a Lord Lieutenant. The format of the ceremonies in Northern Ireland will be an introduction and welcome speech by the Lord Lieutenant. The new citizens will then take an oath and pledge—the only parts of the ceremony which are mandatory throughout the UK. Following this, the Lord Lieutenant will present each of the applicants with their certificate of citizenship. There will then be a short congratulatory speech and the ceremony will end with the playing of the national anthem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Cabinet Office in relation to the Civil Contingencies Bill; and if he will make a statement. [161292]

There has been regular contact, both at Ministerial and official level, with Cabinet Office and other colleagues in relation to the Civil Contingencies Bill. The Bill will place civil protection on a modern, statutory footing and, together with associated administrative arrangements, will provide a uniform level of protection throughout the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service of the grade equivalent to that of the post of audit manager for the Northern Ireland Court Service as advertised in competition PB/1/04 advertised in each of the last five years (a) have and (b) have not been reserved. [160338]

Nine competitions to fill posts at this level were advertised as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) meetings and (b) discussions he has with (i) school principals and (ii) other interested parties since the publication of the Costello Report. [161286]

Since the publication of the Costello Report, I have met with representatives of the UUP, DUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the Governing Bodies Association. I have received a request for a meeting with representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland and I hope to meet with them in the very near future. Officials have been involved in discussions with members of the Association of Head Teachers in Secondary Schools and with post-primary school principals in the Belfast and Southern Education and Library Boards and shortly with those in the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to facilitate urgent dental procedures in children with special needs. [161686]

The Department has been in discussion with the Belfast Dental Hospital (Royal Group of Hospitals Trust) and the Community Dental Service to urge identification of spare theatre capacity outside of the Royal site to facilitate treatment for children with special needs.A working group has also been set up to look at the development and long-term planning for the delivery of dental treatment to children with special needs, and the issues of dental treatment for children and adults with special needs will be addressed within the new Oral Health Strategy which is currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that young adults with complex medical needs have equality of access to dental care. [161688]

The Chief Dental Officer has set up a working group to look at future development of dental services for young adults with complex medical needs. The group is chaired by the Dental Director of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and draws together both medical and dental staff involved in the care of these people.In addition the Chief Dental Officer is undertaking a new Oral Health Strategy (OHS) for Northern Ireland which will address the needs of the learning disabled and medically compromised children and adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on availability of dental services for young people aged 14 years and above with complex medical needs. [161689]

Dental services for young people over the age of 14 years who have complex medical needs are under considerable pressure at the moment. Currently there is only one consultant and one associate specialist in special needs at the Belfast Dental Hospital. They also provide services at outreach clinics throughout Northern Ireland. Most of these patients require their dental treatment carried out under general anaesthesia on an acute hospital site. A shortage of medical consultant anaesthetists and appropriate facilities have also increased the pressure on services over the past couple of years. Efforts are being made at present to address these difficulties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of dental services for young people at Muckamore Abbey Hospital. [161690]

There was a reduction of dental services for young people at Muckamore Abbey Hospital following a review of the use of general anaesthesia and conscious sedation in primary dental care by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer of the NHS in England.The report and subsequent guidelines issued in July 2000 effectively limited the use of general anaesthesia to acute hospitals in the interests of patient safety. General anaesthetic sessions at Muckamore Abbey Hospital ceased in December 2000, although routine dental treatment continues to be provided there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he plans to tackle discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of (a) transport and (b) access to public buildings. [159557]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what quantities of hard drugs were seized by (a) the police, (b) Customs and Excise and (c) other agencies in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [159553]

The amounts of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, and the Northern Ireland Prison Service are detailed in the following tables.Customs efforts to protect Northern Ireland from drugs cannot be measured solely on results in Northern Ireland itself. In 2002–03, Customs took out 11,549 kilos of Class A drugs, targeted on the UK, some of which would have been destined for Northern Ireland. We are unable to supply data on drug seizures by Customs, prior to 1999 as to do so would require a substantial manual exercise and would incur disproportionate cost.Data for drug finds in prison establishments prior to March 2001 was not collated centrally and is not available.