To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) estimate he has made and (b) research he has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the value of the sale of the analogue wave band to public funds. [174047]

The terms and method of reallocation of radio spectrum released by digital switchover are a matter for Ofcom. Additionally, the scope of future uses will be dependent on the result of international negotiations commencing in 2006. Hence, the Government are not currently in a position to make an estimate of the likely value of spectrum.However, the Government have produced an economic cost-benefit analysis of digital switchover. The positive result of this study informed the Government's decision to confirm their support for switchover in September 2003 as it will bring significant benefits to consumers and to broadcasters. A summary of the results can be found at: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit will commence work; and how many staff it will employ; [176258](2) what the total costs, including employment, are for the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit for this financial year. [176259]

The Inland Revenue's Avoidance Intelligence Unit will be operational by the time the tax avoidance disclosure rules come into effect on 1 August 2004. The anticipated initial funding for the Unit is £1.5 million for the first full year. The precise number of staff who will be employed within the Unit is not fixed but will be under constant review and will vary according to the level of work the Unit has to handle.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the origins of the responses to the document Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change; and how many were received from (a) registration officers, (b) genealogists and (c) the general public. [176583]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the General Registrar for England and Wales, who has been asked to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter of 24 March 2004 from Stewart Stevenson MSP regarding World Vision. [176133]

There is no record of the letter being received. A copy has been requested and will be replied to as soon as possible.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 9 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding whisky strip stamps. [176201]

I have done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood on the latest date for which figures are available. [176398]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood since 1997. [176399]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in each year since 1979, broken down by constituency within each region. [175126]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the overall liability from the Premier League and football league clubs to the Treasury in unpaid taxes, deferred taxes and business rates is. [176082]

Individual businesses are monitored by both revenue Departments when they fall into arrears. However information on the debts of particular groups according to the nature of their business is not held centrally in both Departments. The information requested is therefore not readily available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was raised from fuel sales in April. [175961]

Customs and Excise do not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services. VAT from household expenditure on road fuels can be broadly estimated from ONS Consumer Trends data. However, data are published on a quarterly basis only.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much time his Department spent dealing with honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by Civil Service grade. [173045]

The Treasury has a designated honours secretary at Range D (HEO/SEO) level for whom work in this area takes up around 10 per cent. of working hours.The Management Board meets twice a year for an hour to consider nominations. Members of the Management Board also spend a very small amount of their time considering honours-related issues, but it is not possible to disaggregate this.Information is not available on time spent on honours-related work by other staff within the Treasury and across its associated bodies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average industrial wage in Great Britain is. [175854]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received in the past 12 months in relation to the target for spending 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on development, broken down by type of representation. [175793]

The Government have received the usual representations on all subjects relating to official development assistance (oda). Data on the numbers and types of representations are not held centrally in the format requested.Since 1997 the UK's level of oda has increased in real terms by 93 per cent. It reached 0.34 per cent. of Gross National Income (GNI) in 2003–04, and is expected to exceed the EU target of 0.39 per cent. for member states in 2005–06. The UK remains committed to the UN target of 0.7 per cent. oda/GNI and to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in drawing up spending plans in the 2004 Comprehensive Spending Review, he will treat funds committed through the International Finance Facility as counting towards the target of spending 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on development. [176034]

The results of the Spending Review will be made public in due course. The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) rules on the eligibility for official development assistance (oda), and it will be a matter for the DAC to decide what contribution IFF monies would make towards the UK oda/GNI level. The precise arrangements for the operation of the International Finance Facility (IFF) are still the subject of discussions between the UK and other interested governments.The IFF has been designed to front-load the aid to reach the $50 billion extra per year that it is estimated is needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). On current trends few of the MDGs will be met by the target date of 2015, and many will remain off-track without increased investment by donor countries. By delivering aid now, when it will have the most impact, the IFF will be able to provide the world's poorest countries with the funds they desperately need.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workers in Manchester, Central have benefited from the national minimum wage. [175716]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of official vehicles used by his Department are run on (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) liquid petroleum gas and (d) compressed natural gas. [172768]

HM Treasury's ministerial vehicles are provided by the Government Car Service. Detailed information on the breakdown of the GSC vehicle fleet was provided by the Cabinet Office on 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1538W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the revenue which would be raised from petrol and diesel duty if pump prices rose to 90 pence a litre on average in the week beginning 17 May and stayed at that price for the rest of 2004–05; [174568](2) what the tax take is from each additional one penny on the litre price of fuel at the pumps; [174569](3) what estimate he has made of the amount of tax revenue which the Government would raise from petrol and diesel if pump prices remain at their current level for the rest of the financial year; [174570](4) what his latest forecast is for the revenue from all taxes on petrol and diesel for 2004–05; [174571](5) what the Budget forecast was for all tax revenues on petrol and diesel for 2004–05. [174572]

The forecast revenue from fuel duty is published in table C.8 of the 2004 Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC 301). Estimates of the impact of duty changes were published in "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs", alongside the 2003 pre-Budget report (Cm 6042). Reliable estimates of the impact of changes in prices are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of a tax on disposable plastic carrier bags. [175934]

The Government currently have no plans to introduce a tax on plastic bags. In the UK plastic bags comprise less than 1 per cent. of the waste stream. Hence a tax on plastic bags, on its own, would be unlikely to have any significant impacts on volumes of waste. Further, the Government have a range of measures in place to tackle the problem of waste, including the landfill tax which goes some way to maintaining the principle that the polluter pays by internalising the cost of the damage to the environment caused by landfill and encouraging recycling.An assessment of the Irish tax on plastic bags has been completed and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the impact assessments described in the joint initiative on regulatory reform statement of 26 January will be applied to existing EU legislation; and whether such legislation will be repealed if the costs are found not to justify the benefits; [176346](2) whether the impact assessments described in the joint initiative on regulatory reform statement of 26 January will include a requirement to estimate the

The Joint Initiative on Regulatory Reform was welcomed by the Spring European Council in March. Following on from this, the Competitiveness Council endorsed an initial work programme at its 17–18 May meeting, including improvements to impact assessment and review of existing legislation. The European Council has committed to return to the issue at its November meeting.The EU's impact assessment process was introduced as part of its Better Regulation Action Plan and covers both costs and benefits of potential action. The joint initiative contains a number of measures designed to strengthen this analysis, relating to both costs and benefits. In particular, the joint initiative called for better assessment of the impact of proposals on EU competitiveness.With regard to simplification of existing legislation, the joint initiative builds on the Commission's work under its Better Regulation Action Plan. The scope of this programme includes reform or removal of existing legislation which is in force, as well as of that which is obsolete or no longer in use.The Government will continue to work with EU partners ahead of the November Council to take forward work in this area.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to give tax relief to businesses that employ retained firefighters. [176264]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to help businesses administer the statutory paid paternity leave introduced on 6 April 2003; what targets have been set for this work; and what budget has been allocated. [176521]

The Inland Revenue provide extensive assistance and support to employers operating the Statutory Paternity Pay scheme.As well as paper guidance assistance is available for employers on the Revenue's internet site in a simple question and answer format.The Revenue also send all employers a CD-ROM which contains guidance and other aids in easily navigable format.The Revenue's, Business Support teams provide a free workshop for employers on SPP at locations across the UK. Assistance is also available on a one to one basis.The Revenue's Employer's Helpline offers telephone assistance at hours to suit the employer.The Inland Revenue are also working on the provision of an internet calculator for SPP.The Inland Revenue do not set a budget or targets for assistance to employers which can be broken down between different employer obligations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 150W, on statutory paternity pay, when the statistics will become available. [176441]

Employers will notify the Inland Revenue of the numbers of employees who have received SPP in their annual returns for the 2003–04 tax year. Those returns were due on 19 May 2004, they are received over several months and the Inland Revenue will not have completed processing them until later in the year. Employers are not required to notify us of all requests for SPP, only of payments made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether migrants from the EU accession countries are entitled to (a) the child tax credit and (b) the working tax credit; and on what conditions. [172952]

I refer the hon. Member to the letter from my hon. Friend the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration sent to all Members of Parliament on 10 May 2004. A copy of the letter can be found in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment in Manchester, Central over the last seven years. [175715]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many long-term youth unemployed there were in each year since 1979, broken down by constituency within each region. [175127]

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

To ask the Prime Minister when he will next publish the full membership and terms of reference of Cabinet Committees. [176693]

I have placed a copy of the current list of Cabinet Committees, their membership and terms of reference in the Libraries of both Houses. Details have also been updated on the Cabinet Office website.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the letter reported in The Times of 21 May regarding the time taken to reply to letters from hon. Members, peers and MEPs. [176075]

I and my Ministerial colleagues attach great importance to dealing with all correspondence quickly and effectively. On 20 May, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) published a report on the performance of Departments and Agencies in handling correspondence from hon. Members and noble Peers for 2003. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he took to secure the export of Gripen aircraft to the Czech Republic. [176221]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 853W.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received about reintroducing the Hunting Bill in this Session; and if he will make a statement. [176292]

Since January I have received over 1,600 letters and cards about the issue of hunting. Given the volume of correspondence I receive, over one million letters and cards in the last year covering a broad spectrum of issues, my office records letters by subject rather than by the view expressed.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the Lockerbie relatives on Monday 24 May. [176998]

I had a very constructive meeting with the Lockerbie families on 24 May. It was an opportunity for me to brief them on my visit to Libya in March and to listen to the families' concerns, which we take very seriously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the financial viability of UK Sport's elite athletes programme; whether she intends to draw more funds from the devolved Governments to increase the finances available to this fund; and if she will make a statement. [176085]

UK Sport recently presented their Business Plan for 2005–09, including details of proposed support to elite athletes, to the Sports Cabinet. The Sports Cabinet considered the proposals in terms of funding need, value for money and affordability and has requested further work be undertaken to ensure that sufficient funds are available for the next Olympic cycle. There is no intention to draw more funds from devolved Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding her Department has allocated for (a) the long-term storage of the British Library's newspaper collection and (b) the archiving of digital material as required under the Legal Deposits Libraries Act 2003. [175968]

DCMS recognises the key storage needs of the British Library, and in SR 2002 set aside an extra amount of capital (£3 million in 2004–05 and £8 million in 2005–06) to help the British Library address this. The Department is aware of the British Library's bid for further resources to accelerate the programme of newspaper microfilm surrogate production and to manage digital materials. This is being considered as part of the 2004 Spending Review. The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 allows for the possibility of archiving digital material; the precise manner in which this is done will be dependent on regulations which will be brought forward incrementally after consideration by an Advisory Panel.

To ask the, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects responsibility for licensing to be transferred to local authorities. [176338]

Licensing authorities, who will generally be local authorities, will be able to accept applications for the conversion of existing licences and club registration certificates from the first appointed day. This will be at least six months after my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issues the Guidance to licensing authorities. The timetable for full implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 is dependent on parliamentary approval of the draft guidance, which was laid before Parliament on 23 March. If Parliament is content, we expect to complete the implementation of the Act around late summer 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the membership of each regional tourist board has been in the last three years. [176312]

Regional Tourist Boards are not Government agencies, their board members are not appointed by Ministers and records of their membership are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expenditure of each regional tourist board has been in the last three years, broken down by main budget heading. [176318]

Regional Tourist Boards (RTBs) are not Government agencies and records of their expenditure are not held centrally. Most of them are private companies limited by guarantee and they have income in addition to Government funding.Funding via the English Tourism Council in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and via the Regional Development Agencies in 2003–04 totalled £6.5 million, £5.7 million and £3.6 million in these years respectively. Government funding passed to the RTBs in these years for specific tourism projects, delivery of national objectives at a regional level and activities in line with regional strategies. Separately, funding of £1.9 million per annum passed from DCMS to the Greater London Authority who, worked with the London Tourist Board (renamed VisitLondon in 2003), on marketing London overseas and tourism development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government office for the south-east intends to issue its decision on Bisham footpath 9, following the public inquiry, which was completed on 9 November 2003. [174012]

The Government office for the south-east is considering the Inspector's report and expects to issue a decision next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current status of the gamma interferon trials being conducted by her Department is; what the total cost so far expended on developing this test is; and what the estimated total cost fully to develop this test to the point where it can be used routinely is. [158000]

Desk studies have estimated that significant savings will need to accrue from the use of gamma interferon (γ-IFN) before it becomes cost-effective in GB. The field trial of the γ-IFN test taking place in Wales and the Midlands is sponsored by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government. It aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of using γIFN in infected herds in conjunction with the single intradermal comparative cervical test.The field pilot began in November 2002, with the intention to recruit 660 herds. Recruitment to the trial has been slow, with 115 herds recruited by 19 May 2004. Approximately one third of herds recruited so far are γ-IFN tested, with the other herds subject to "extra-severe" interpretation of the skin test and a control group (status quo).From May 2004, newly recruited herds will have a 50 per cent. chance of being allocated the γ-IFN treatment, with 25 per cent. allocated to "extra-severe" and 25 per cent. to "control" groups. It is hoped this will encourage more eligible herd owners to participate.Since 1999, the Government have spent more than £900,000 on γ-IFN research projects and £8.5 million on other research projects contributing to the development of γ-IFN as a diagnostic test. This is in addition to the £667,000 we expect to spend on the field pilot for the test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average number of cattle involved in a herd TB breakdown was over the last five years; what the average was in herds with repeat breakdowns; and what epidemiological significance there is to the number of animals affected in a herd breakdown. [158675]

The following table details the average number of reactor cattle slaughtered per TB incident (breakdown) over the last five years:

Reactors per incident 1
1999	2.5
2000	2.8
2001	3.1
2002	4.7
2003	3.6
1 Includes all the herd incidents recorded each year (new and ongoing).

Separate figures are not available for herds with recurrent breakdowns as a subgroup of all breakdowns. This data can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The number of reactors per incident is a proxy for the severity of a TB breakdown. Severity of a breakdown is in turn determined by the number of cattle in the herd infected at the initial exposure (index animals), the time elapsed between introduction of infection in the herd and the disclosing test (or slaughterhouse case), social interactions between infective and susceptible cattle, herd size, herd management system, susceptibility of the host, the portal of entry into the host and infective dose and, possibly, the strain of "M. bovis" causing the breakdown. Confirmed TB incidents tend to last longer and yield more reactors than unconfirmed incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many herd breakdowns in 2003 only one reactor was detected; and in how many of those herds there had been no cattle movements into the herds in the preceding 60 days. [158678]

In 2003 there were 1204¹ breakdowns with one reactor detected. Of these, the number with no cattle movements in the preceding 60 days is not centrally recorded on the State Veterinary Service database and can only he provided at disproportionate cost from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tuberculin positive reactor cattle were slaughtered in the UK in each year from 1999 to 2003 inclusive; and in how many bovine TB infection was not confirmed on culture or examination post mortem in each year. [172557]

The information requested is given in the following table for Great Britain.

	Number of TB	Number of
	reactor cattle slaughtered1	unconfirmed cases2
1999	5,910	2,709
2000	7,031	2,629
20013	5,048	2,293
2002	19,903	9,671
2003	20,117	10,180
1 For the purposes of this question a reactor has been defined as (i) an animal which reacts positively to the tuberculin test or (ii) an animal which has had an inconclusive reaction to the tuberculin tests on three occasions.
2 Failure to detect visible lesions or culture Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) from samples does not confirm the absence of infection or that the animal has not been exposed to M. bovis.
3 In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result since 2002 the statistical data is not comparable to that of previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further research she proposes to undertake to investigate TB in wildlife; and if she will make a statement. [173694]

Defra is funding the Randomised Badger Culling Trial and associated research (including the Road Traffic Accident survey of badger carcases in seven English counties). A limited survey of wildlife (badgers, and deer with suspicious lesions) killed on the roads in the Furness Peninsula, Cumbria is also under way.Recently published research highlights that the use of farm buildings and cattle troughs by badgers can constitute a TB risk to cattle. A study of possible badger/cattle interactions and how cattle husbandry methods may limit these is under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extra costs, beyond the cost of the test itself, to farmers of using a TB test; and if she will make a statement. [174082]

The cost of statutory tuberculin testing by an authorised Veterinary Surgeon is currently paid for by Defra. Cattle keepers are responsible for presenting the animals for testing in a manner in which the test can be performed safely, this includes provision of the necessary cattle handling equipment and labour.The main cost to farmers incurred for TB testing is labour use. The time spent on testing varies greatly from farm to farm, and will depend on such factors as the size of the herd, the age, breed and sex of the animals, the efficiency of the system employed the way the cattle are handled, gathering times, preparation and cleaning times and subsequent post-test paperwork.Some dairy farmers have also reported a reduction in milk yield on testing days.A full Regulatory Impact Assessment will be required if proposals on pre or post-movement testing outlined in the consultation document "preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis'' are taken forward. This will include an assessment of the additional economic burden to farmers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on behalf of the UK (a) off-shore oil and gas operators, (b) electricity generators and (c) coal industry regarding Government policy on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. [172527]

The Secretary of State has received numerous representations from the three industrial sectors described above. All three sectors have been closely involved with the consultations on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme National Allocation Plan and have submitted consultation responses.Furthermore, operators of installations in the offshore oil and gas industry and the coal industry are direct participants in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and have considerable ongoing contact with the Department because of this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the area of traditional apple orchards that is not currently covered by the countryside stewardship scheme is included in 2005. [176313]

I can confirm that, subject to approval by the European Commission, the new Environmental Stewardship Scheme which we plan to introduce in 2005 will contain measures designed to maintain and restore traditional orchards. These will be similar to the measures we have successfully operated under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. While we hope for a high level of uptake, we cannot guarantee complete coverage, not least because the scheme is voluntary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many male dairy calves have been (a) shot and (b) disposed of on UK farms in each of the last three years as being without financial value. [174138]

Data from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) on calves of up to 14 days age that either die on farm or are killed at slaughterhouses are tabulated as follows. However, it should be noted that many cattle are not registered under the CTS until they are over 14 days old and these figures are therefore an underestimate.

	Cattle up to 14-days-old that died on farm	Cattle up to 14-days-old that died at a slaughterhouse
2001	27,975	66,051
2002	20,784	59,934
20031	15,740	40,437
1Data for 2003 only covers the months January to November, inclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many buildings in England owned by her Department are used at less than 25 per cent. capacity for more than three months of the year. [175978]

Five buildings on the Defra estate fall within this category. All five have been declared surplus and are awaiting disposal.The Department does not hold information centrally about properties occupied by non-departmental public bodies but the use of premises by the wider Defra family is currently being reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about the impact the cost of egg stamping is likely to have on small-scale egg producers; and if she will make a statement. [174202]

Defra has received an estimated 3,150 inquiries on the Registration of Laying Flocks Order and the Egg Marketing Regulations—by far the majority of these were from producers wanting to know how to comply with the legal requirements. We have also held meetings with representative bodies, including the National Federation of Women's Institutes; the National Association of Farmers; and the Small Farms Association. For small-scale producers, a stamp and ink (that will last for years) can cost just a few pounds. Most small producers appear to have been satisfied that the costs are reasonable and can be borne comfortably.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the European Commission to take a robust line with EU members who produce over-generous national allocation plans under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure that significant reductions in carbon emissions are achieved. [174783]

It is vital that other member states' national allocation plans are robust and ambitious. We welcome the Commission's recent announcement regarding national allocation plans, that clearly demonstrates that they intend to take a firm line in the analysis of these plans.Government have commissioned consultants to analyse the plans submitted by other member states. The results of this work will be made publicly available and will help inform our discussions with the Commission and other member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much she expects the Government to spend on environmental campaigns in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06. [168810]

Defra provides funding to a number of bodies who will conduct campaigns on environmental issues between 2004–06 as part of their activities. These are shown in the following table. Figures represent overall income. Campaigns will be allocated funds from within these totals.

£ million
	2004–05	2005–06
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)	57.521	75.709
Environment Agency	870.2	944.9
Energy Saving Trust	59	Not yet allocated
Carbon Trust	24	Not yet allocated
ENCAMS	3.542	3.542

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the new Fallen Stock Scheme is expected to commence; and what level of support it has achieved. [174790]

[holding answer 21 May 2004.]: As announced by the National Fallen Stock Company on 13 May, the Scheme is expected to commence in the autumn. It has the backing of the major farming unions and livestock organisations, but we will not know the level of support it has among farmers until the Scheme begins.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 20 May 2004, Official Report, columns 1079–80, on fallen stock, if she will give guidance to local authorities on how to implement the EU Animal By-Products Regulations with a light touch before the national fallen stock scheme is in operation. [176295]

Guidance has already been provided to local authorities and a copy is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of farms in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which would be eligible for the post-transitional single farm payment would receive payments exceeding (i) 50,000, (ii) 75,000, (iii) 100,000, (iv) 125,000, (v) 150,000, (vi) 175,000, (vii) 200,000, (viii) 250,000 and (ix) 300,000 euros. [172484]

Payment entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme in England and Northern Ireland will be allocated on the bases of eligible land declared in 2005. It is not possible to provide the information sought until all claims have been received and processed. Payment arrangements for Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average subsidy payment in Cumbria was in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [169077]

The following table represents the average subsidy payment to farmers in Cumbria from 1999 to 2002. These are European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) financial years which run from 16 October o 15 October.

EAGGF Year	Average subsidy	Number of claimants	Value of payments
19911	6,134.41	4,540	27,850,196.65
2000	12,219.08	5,113	62,476,159.75
2001	12,149.86	5,171	62,826,951.00
2002	9,567.28	5,055	48,362,622.32
1 The figures quoted for 1999 relate to the period from 1 March of that year when the Rural Payments Agency introduced its new accounting system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) discussions she has had and (b) assessment she has made of future agricultural support payments in (i) uplands and (ii) severely disadvantaged areas. [166445]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had discussions with, and received representations from, a wide range of interests on the subject. As a result she made a written statement to the House on 22 April. Eligible farmers in the uplands and the 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 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 when the report on foot and mouth disease at the Waugh's farm by Mr. Jim Dring was (a) first received by her Ministers; and (b) first received by her. [173994]

My Ministers and I were briefed about and had access to Mr. Dring's statement concerning the Waugh's farm in the week preceding our publication of his statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the labelling requirements for (a) milk and (b) meat produced from animals fed on genetically modified feed. [173553]

Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 on genetically modified (GM) food and feed introduces new rules for the labelling of food and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Regulation took direct and full effect in Member States from 18 April 2004.There is no requirement under the new rules to label products such as milk or meat or eggs obtained from animals fed with GM feed as there is no GM material in these products to detect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will define the extent of the processing premises at Heddon View; [174539](2) whether the premises designated for processing at Heddon View Farm were analogous to the premises designated by Mr. Jim Dring as direct contact. [174541]

The processing premises were in a self contained roofed building and were therefore compliant with the requirements in Schedule 5 of the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The processing premises at Heddon View were separate from the pig premises referred to as a direct contact by Jim Dring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1025W, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), on Severely Disadvantaged Areas, what assessment she has made of the extent of non-receipt of integrated administration and control system forms; and how many farms have contacted the Rural Payments Agency to request forms. [174371]

The Rural Payments Agency sent out replacement Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) forms to some 1,500 applicants approximately 2.2 per cent. of the total number of IACS applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the cases of psittacosis confirmed in Sway in Hampshire in each year since 2000 and the actions taken by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [174629]

There have been four recorded cases of psittacosis in Sway, Hampshire since 2000:

Number of cases
2000	0
2001	3
2002	1
2003	0
2004 (to date)	0

The veterinary surgeon submitting the samples was informed of the results of the examination carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency Regional Laboratory and reminded that psittacosis is a zoonosis (infection transmissible between animals and man) and the public health implications for the owner.The public health authorities were informed and a visit was made to the premises in 2002 by a Veterinary Officer from the local Defra Animal Health Divisional Office to offer advice on the control of the disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department carried out risk assessment on the feeding of swill to pigs prior to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. [166759]

No. No formal risk assessment was carried out prior to the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. Following the outbreak veterinary advice was that there was a risk from domestically produced meat because of the amount of virus in circulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many products have been approved for inclusion in the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Technologies. [175278]

The Water Technology Product List which lists all products that are eligible for inclusion in the scheme, was launched on 6 November 2003. Since the launch, 115 products have been approved for inclusion in the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department maintains the (a) Home Accidents Deaths Database, (b) the Home Accident Surveillance System and (c) the Leisure Accidents Surveillance System. [175826]

On 2 May 2003, my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Miss Johnson), the then Minister for Competition, Consumers and Markets, announced that the DTI will no longer collect statistics on the causes and nature of home and leisure accidents. Following increased pressure on resources and the need to focus on the Department's core priorities, hard decisions had to be made on what to stop. The Home Accident Surveillance System (HASS) and the Leisure Accidents Surveillance System (LASS) did not fit with these priorities.Data from HASS and LASS for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 were published in December 2003. These systems are no longer maintained by DTI, and no further data have been collected beyond 2002. An inquiry service on HASS and LASS historic data up to and including 2002 is being provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for a period of five years with effect from 1 January 2004.The Home Accidental Deaths Database held data up to and including 1995, and for similar reasons is no longer maintained by the Department. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects information about fatal accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal compensation scheme claims have resulted in full and final settlements of less than (a) £1,000 and (b) £500. [176105]

As of 26 May 2004, the figures are as follows:

	Number of settlements less than £1,000	Of which number of settlements less than £500
COPD	26,281	11,867
VWF	2,971	301

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal compensation scheme claims have resulted in solicitors being paid more than claimants. [176106]

As of 26 May 2004, the figures are:

	Number of settlements where solicitor costs exceed damages paid to claimant
COPD	46,768
VWF	2,655

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to her since Easter about the possibility of minimum payments for coal compensation schemes. [176107]

The Claimants Representative Group advised the judge that they were looking at the possibility of a minimum payment arrangement for respiratory disease claims. The Department has received two letters from the Claimants Representative Group since Easter seeking background information on claims volumes. The subject has also been discussed at the regular Operation and Monitoring meetings between the parties. A formal proposal has not yet been submitted to the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations to EU Commission officials she has made on behalf of UK businesses in relation to plans for a draft Directive on nutritional supplements for sports competitors; and if she will make a statement. [175281]

[holding answer 24 May 2004.]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health on 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1605W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received in respect of the manner in which Post Office Ltd. is approaching the Urban Network Reinvention programme in Birmingham. [172025]

To date, we have received petitions, including those co-ordinated by the Birmingham Evening Mail, opposing all Post Office Ltd.'s proposals for sub post office closures in Birmingham. We have also received representations on the same basis from Birmingham city council. I discussed this with Councillor Albert Bore, the Leader of the Council, on 19 April 2004.It was inevitable that Post Office Ltd.'s restructuring of its network in urban areas would be controversial. The restructuring is, however, essential for future network viability. The Government regard it as most important that all communities have good access to postal services. At the end of Post Office Ltd.'s restructuring of the urban post office network, at least 95 per cent. of the urban population nationally will still live within one mile of their nearest post office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2004, Official Report, column 1781W, on radioactive waste, for what reason the review of Nirex is not yet complete. [164802]

I have been asked to reply.The review of Nirex, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 16 July 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what share of the overall energy supply in mainland Great Britain she expects will be supplied by renewable energy sources by the end of 2005; [175858](2) what share of the overall energy supply industry in Northern Ireland she expects will be supplied by renewable energy sources by the end of 2005. [175864]

The Department has made no such projections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will ask the Competition Commission to reopen its investigation into competition in the retail industry conducted in 2000; [175759](2) what research has been undertaken into the practice of below cost selling in the grocery industry since 2000; [175760](3) what plans she has to commission research into the impact of below cost selling in the U K retail industry. [175761]

The Competition Commission investigation in 2000 did not look at the retail industry generally. It was a specific investigation into the supply of groceries from multiple stores. The Commission's report found that the practice of below cost selling, when carried out by companies with market power, did operate against the public interest but that remedies would be disproportionate to the adverse effect. The Commission therefore did not recommend any action in this regard.It is for the competition authorities to decide if a market investigation into the retail industry is now needed or if further research on below cost selling is required.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 30 April 2004, Official Report, column 1319W, on gold-plating, if he will list cases of unforeseen or undesired over-implementation identified by the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit, broken down by (a) the EU Directive, (b) the Department responsible for implementation and (c) the option taken that went beyond the minimum necessary to comply with the European Directive. [176100]

The Cabinet Office guidance referred to in the original question states that

"Instances of gold-plating will need to be brought to the attention of the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit."

In the context of the guidance, it is clear that what is being referred to is consultation during the course of policy development, rather than notification after the event. The Cabinet Office does not hold records of all the policy discussions which have taken place which have dealt with possible gold-plating.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) of 30 April 2004, Official Report, column 1319W, on gold-plating, if he will list the instances of the implementation of EU legislation where, due to exceptional reasons, it has been deemed necessary to over-implement Directives, broken down by (a) the EU Directive and (b) the Government Department responsible. [176101]

One instance has been identified by the Cabinet Office since November 2001, when the provision of Tranposition Notes to Parliament became mandatory.The 2001 Money Laundering Directive required the UK to regulate

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what date the International Committee of the Red Cross report on the treatment by Coalition forces of prisoners of war and other persons protected by the Geneva conventions during arrest, internment and interrogation in Iraq was received by the Office. [173900]

Neither I nor officials in the Cabinet Office received this report of the International Committee of the Red Cross before it appeared in the public domain.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission when the House authorities expect to install wireless internet access on the Parliamentary Estate. [175561]

The Information Committee makes recommendations on wireless access. I am sure that the Committee would be happy to receive views from hon. Members. The Parliamentary Communications Directorate is evaluating the technologies involved and assessing security issues.