To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the environmental impact of dredging in the Dee estuary. [180219]

Dredging in the Dee estuary is regulated by the Environment Agency in Wales with additional consents being required from both the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Transport.As there is an English component to the conservation interests on the Dee, I would expect to be consulted regarding any decision to allow dredging to take place should it affect English interests.

To ask the secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks around the UK. [180221]

There are a range of national and EU measures in place to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks in our waters. The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit has made far-reaching recommendations for new measures and we will be spending fully to these proposals by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to simplify the legislation relating to the keeping of wild animals. [180222]

The Department will be publishing a consultation paper on 28 June setting out proposals for improvements to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which regulates the keeping of dangerous wild animals by private individuals, and will also soon be publishing a draft Animal Welfare Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is planning to take to mitigate the impact of building new homes upon underground aquifers.[180223]

Water companies have a duty to supply water to domestic customers. As part of this they develop 25 year water resource plans to meet future demands of water, including those arising from new housing development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations she has received this year on the welfare of racing greyhounds; and if she will make a statement.[180224]

I regret that the Department is unable to provide such detail because of the many different ways in which representations are made, including by letter, e mail, petitions and postcard campaigns.There has been a large number of representations on greyhounds this year, encouraged, no doubt, by a campaign run by a major animal welfare organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been prosecuted under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 with regard to greyhounds in each of the last 10 years. [179232]

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible to identify those prosecutions under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 that relate to greyhounds because details of the circumstances of the offences are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications of the Gershon Review for levels of staffing in her Department. [180225]

The settlement for the 2004 Spending Review, including the outcome to the efficiency review, has not been finalised yet. Once it has been concluded, the potential impact on staff will be identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the priority score criteria used in assessing coastal defence schemes. [180227]

Defra funds projects based on a published priority score system which applies equally to all projects, coastal or otherwise. The score takes account of the number of people protected, benefits as compared to costs, and environmental protection and enhancement. Eligible projects which score at or above the announced threshold will be funded. The threshold score for projects to start in 2004–05 is 20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the proposed cross-compliance conditions for the single farm payment. [180228]

The deadline for responses to the consultation on proposed and possible measures for cross compliance ended on 20 June. We have received 451 presentations from a wide range of stakeholders and officials are now considering the responses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the trends have been since 1997 in respect of the concentration of aluminium powder in air. [179457]

Defra monitors ambient aluminium concentrations at three locations: Chilton, Oxfordshire; Styrrup, Yorkshire; and Wraymires, Cumbria. The following table shows annual mean air concentrations from 1997 to 2002 (the latest year that data are available). Details of the monitoring data are available in reports published on Defra's Air Quality Archive at www.airquality.co.uk.

Annual mean air concentration of aluminium (ng m-3)
	Chilton	Styrrup	Wraymires
1997	110	145	54
1998	92	137	58
1999	68	110	67
2000	100	140	49
2001	76	110	42
2002	82	120	40

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met officials from the European Commission to discuss beef exports. [180226]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, meets Commissioner Byrne regularly at Agriculture Councils to discuss various issues, including beef exports. DEFRA officials also have regular meetings with officials from the Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conclusions she has drawn from this season's monitoring of cetacean by-catch. [179267]

I have not yet received the report of this season's monitoring of cetacean by-catch. However, as soon as I receive it I shall give careful consideration to whether any further regulatory measures are necessary to reduce cetacean by-catch caused by interactions with fisheries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of multi-rig trawls on the cod recovery programme. [180220]

We are concerned about the increased catching efficiency of multi-rig trawls. They have the potential to undermine restrictions on fishing effort in the cod recovery programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on payments for orchards under Common Agricultural Policy reform, with particular reference to the eligibility for payments of different types of orchards. [178200]

Under the CAP reform agreement reached last year, the new Single Payment will not normally be payable on land under permanent crops, including orchard fruit. This rule applies throughout the European Community. The scope of a possible exception for traditional grazed orchards, in line with current provisions, is being explored with the European Commission.Entitlements to subsidy under the new scheme will be established in 2005 on the basis of eligible land declared in that year, which includes having the land at his disposal for at least a 10 month period. The start of this period may be any date from 1 October this year to 30 April next, at the grower's discretion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer from the Minister for Public Health of 11 December 2003, Official Report, columns 596–7W, on GM crops, what (a) notice and (b) formal communication the Food Standards Agency gave to her Department of its intention to support the approval of the application of the use of Bt 11 GM maize in food at the EC Standing Committee for the food chain and animal health meeting on 8 December 2003. [179970]

The Food Standards Agency wrote on 30 October last year seeking the clearance from all relevant government departments of the UK's voting position on Bt 11 sweet maize at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. Additionally my Department is kept informed of the progress of applications as they proceed through the Novel Foods regulatory process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the position will be under the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy of orchards which are returned to general agriculture. [177787]

Entitlements to subsidy under the new Single Payment Scheme will be established in 2005 on the basis of eligible land declared in that year. The Single Payment will not normally be payable on land under permanent crops, including orchard fruit. This rule applies throughout the European Community. The scope of a possible exception for grazed orchards is being explored with the European Commission.A grower who decided that he wished to return land to general agriculture would need to do so before the beginning of the 10-month qualifying period in order to be eligible for the Single Payment. This period can start on any day from 1 October this year to 30 April next at the grower's discretion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been spent by the Wales Euro Task Force on preparing Welsh firms for the introduction of the euro; how that money was spent; and what actions the funding facilitated. [178293]

The National Assembly for Wales funded the Wales Euro Taskforce which was in existence until 30 June 2002 and then subsequently a consultant until October 2003. The total cost was £64,000.The Task Force remit was to disseminate information on the Euro, providing help for businesses in Wales. This work was taken forward in a number of ways including presentations, conferences, exhibitions, a telephone helpline with access to an expert panel, an information website and leaflet distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees in his Department have (a) signed a formal opt out from and (b) re exempt from the Working Time Directive; and how many employees in his Department have recorded hours, including any accruing on a flexitime basis, in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the last month for which figures are available. [178369]

Two members of staff have voluntarily opted out of this directive arid are therefore exempt from the Working Time Directive.The Wales Office has a duty to ensure the health and safety of its staff. Therefore no member of staff at the Wales Office is asked to work hours in excess of the Working Time Directive (an average of 48 hours a week over a 17-week period).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government earned in revenue from tobacco duty and VAT on cigarettes in financial years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [180258]

Tobacco duty revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Tobacco Factsheet, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and from Customs' website.Customs do not collect data on VAT from individual goods or services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford in response to his letter of 11 March to the Inland Revenue concerning his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Moss. [180315]

The Inland Revenue replied to the hon. Member on 29 April 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [178790]

The costs and traffic figures for each website operated by the agencies and Departments for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible, during the 2003–04 financial year, were as follows:

Department/site address	Direct costs (£)	Visits	Page impressions (million)
HM Customs and Excise
www.hmce.gov.uk	1393,000	3.7 million	—
www.uktradeinfo.com	1285,000	214,336	1.05
HM Treasury
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk	1197,000	2.6 million	41.4
www.euro.gov.uk	32,000	660.000	—
www.isb.gov.uk	262,785		—
Inland Revenue
www.ir.gov.uk	31.9 million	9.9 million	110.6
Office for National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk	11.1 million	7.14 million	60.6 million
National Savings and Investments
www.nsandi.com	1156,180	5.5 million	16.7
Office of Government Commerce
www.ogc.gov.uk	226,000	592,551	—
www.sds.ogc.gov.uk
www.gps.ogc.gov.uk
www.co.ogc.gov.uk
www.supplyinggovernment.gov.uk
https://www.epims.ogc.gov.uk
www.ogc-top.co.uk
OGC buying solution
OGCbuying.solutions corporate	499,999	439,268	—
website
Energy Website
G-Cat
S-Cat
Portfolio Portal
Web enabled 'Central Product Database' and e-commerce system
Royal Mint
www.royalmint.gov.uk	193,000	966,047	7.2
UK Debt Management Office
www.dmo.gov.uk	185,000	384,533	1.4
www.pwlb.gov.uk
www.crnd.gov.uk
Valuation Office
http://www.voa.gov.uk/	142,000	26,896	2.4
1Staff costs are included.
2Costs include database development work for this joint Treasury-Cabinet Office website.
3Of this 1.9 million, 1.4 million is a one off cost relating to the redesign of the Inland Revenue's website.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of employment levels on the economy. [180333]

The performance of the UK labour market over recent years has been strong by both international and historical standards. The UK has the highest employment rate among the G7 economies. Over 1.8 million new jobs have been created since 1997. High employment levels contribute to growth and prosperity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the way statistics related to (a) cancer, (b) neurology, (c) ophthalmology, (d) nursing and (e) midwifery are recorded by the Office For National Statistics. [180202]

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 recent estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of smoking-related illnesses and fatalities. [180259]

The White Paper Smoking Kills (1998) estimated the cost to the NHS of treating ill-health caused by smoking was £1.7 billion a year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment rates were in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years. [179968]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the fields of the (a) Estates and Lands database and (b) his Department's Service personnel databases. [176382]

Defence Estates (DE) controls and utilises numerous databases which encompass a wide range of information related to the day-to-day management of the land we own and use. These databases include the Defence Property Gazetteer Maintenance (which includes the disposal programme), E Terrier (which provides details of MOD ownership and legal titles), the MOD Sites Information System and the Parliamentary Business database. In some cases these comprise well over 100 individual fields.Excluding the three Services, which all have a multitude of individual databases, so far as the Service personnel databases are concerned, the armed forces Personnel Administration Agency alone has in excess of 300 individual databases, each one having numerous separate fields. The individual armed Services have many other databases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have left employment in his Department because of (a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997. [175670]

Table A: UK Regular armed forces medically discharged for mental health disorders, 1997–2003
			1997–2003
Mental health disorder grouping	ICD-10 codes	total	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
All mental health disorders	F00–F99	959	122	147	101	127	156	160	146
Mood/affective disorders, and mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified	F30–39, F53	314	27	53	23	44	50	58	59
Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders	F40–F48	448	58	60	58	57	75	74	66
Other mental health disorders	F00–F29, F50–F52, F54–F99	197	37	34	20	26	31	28	21

Centrally held figures show that during the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2003, 1,750 civilian staff have retired due to ill health. It is not recorded how many of this number retired due to mental health disorders.The figure is full-time equivalent, this is a measure of the size of the workforce that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many empty houses his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [179354]

[holding answer 18 June 2004]: Defence Estates (the Ministry of Defence Agency responsible) is aware of 7,700 empty properties in mainland UK, as at 31 March 2004. Of those:

over 900 are planned for disposal

over 1,600 are held for future Service deployments

some 550 are empty awaiting modernisation

The remainder are available to let or are under offer to Service families. There may be a relatively small number of additional properties which are empty, for which information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, if he decides to relocate HQ Land away from Wilton, the Crichel Down rules will apply to the sale of the site. [179477]

It is the Ministry of Defence's normal policy to consider the application of the Crichel Down rules in all instances when disposing of surplus land. However, application depends on detailed analysis and it would be premature to say whether the rules would apply to the Wilton site.

In the seven year period 1997–2003, 959 Regular Service personnel were medically discharged from the United Kingdom Armed Forces due to a mental health disorder. The Defence Analytical Services Agency codes the specific conditions according to the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification of diseases and health-related problems 10th revision (ICD-10). According to this system it is not possible to identify separately all anxiety, stress, and depressive conditions as there is considerable overlap between them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who and which Government offices were involved in the recent review of the award of medals to Arctic convoy veterans. [179543]

The review was conducted by Defence Ministers, supported by officials. Other Government Departments were not involved, but reference was made to contemporary documents of the Inter-departmental Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the up-to-date position is on the award of medals to the Arctic convoy veterans. [179554]

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 1 March 2004, Official Report, columns 595–96W to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military vehicle drivers have been stopped by the police for speeding on (a) the A303 and (b) the M3 in the past 12 months. [179480]

No records are maintained to indicate whether any military vehicle drivers may have been stopped for speeding on the A303 or M3 in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prospective purchasers have (a) made initial enquiries and (b) negotiated in respect of the Dean Hill site; when he expects to conclude a sale; and if he will make a statement. [179483]

Defence Estates has undertaken an expressions of interests campaign ahead of marketing the site. There were 175 initial inquiries, with 54 parties having expressed an interest in acquiring all or parts of the site.Our current aim is to market the site in spring 2005, subject to legal advice on whether the former owner (Crichel Down) rules apply.No negotiations have yet taken place, but discussions on conservation issues are in progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the land occupied by RAF Boulmer other than for married quarters is (a) publicly owned and (b) rented; and whether any of it is governed by (i) lease conditions under which the landowner can require reinstatement to agricultural condition and (ii) other restrictions which if enforced would lead to a cut to public funds when the lease is surrendered. [169173]

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: In total, RAF Boulmer comprises an area of some 59 ha, of which around 46 ha is Crown freehold and 13 ha is leased. The station is split into three separate areas: a main site, the old administrative site and an accommodation site.The main site is publicly owned. No restrictions apply. The old administrative site, which is also publicly owned, is in the process of disposal and the Ministry of Defence is committed to reinstate it to its original condition. The accommodation site, which includes the Search and Rescue Unit, is partially leased.Of this leased area, just over 4 ha could be left as existing or at the landlord's request be returned to original (agricultural) condition. The remainder has to be returned to original (agricultural) condition or compensation paid in lieu.It is too early to assess the precise impact on receipts, but this is only one of a number of factors which would be taken into account in taking decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ongoing British involvement there will be in Iraq after the 30 June 2004 transfer of power. [174518]

Following the assumption of authority by the Interim Iraqi Government on 30 June, British troops will contribute to the Multi National Force carrying out a range of tasks including the provision of security and building the Iraqi security forces. The detailed arrangements under which the Multi National Force will operate are set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 and the letters to the Security Council from Prime Minister Allawi and Secretary Powell.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what part he has played in mediating a settlement between the Fire Brigades Union and the fire authorities. [179340]

Following the May 2002 pay claim from the Fire Brigades Union, Ministers encouraged the two sides to reach a negotiated settlement. The June 2003 agreement which ended the firefighters dispute set out a clear path for pay improvement linked to modernisation of the Fire and Rescue Service subject to some further negotiations. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the parties will recognise that a negotiated settlement is the only way forward.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many housing units were built in 2003–04 in the Pathfinder areas of Merseyside; and how many are expected to be built in 2004–05. [179729]

No housing dwellings were completed in 2003–04 in the Sefton area of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder. The forecast for 2004–05 is 52 housing dwellings. In Wirral, 42 dwellings were completed in 2003–04 and the forecast for 2004–05 is 105. Figures are not yet available for the Liverpool Pathfinder area in 2003–04, but the HMRI Delivery Plan forecasts that 1,301 dwellings will be provided over the period 2004–06.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities in England have chosen (a) stock transfer, (b) Arms Length Management and (c) Private Finance Initiative. [180185]

The information is as follows:Since 2001:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from local authorities in England seeking direct Government investment options to improve standards in their housing stock.[180187]

Hammersmith and Fulham and Camden are the only local authorities who themselves have requested direct investment from the Government to meet the Decent Homes programme.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of empty homes in each local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [180193]

The information requested has been made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) large scale voluntary stock transfers of council housing and (b) Arms Length Management Organisations on the provision of low cost housing. [180037]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no direct assessment since we do not expect the transfer of existing council housing to Registered Social Landlords (RSL) or its management by an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) in itself to directly affect the provision of low cost housing for key sector workers. Where a local authority receives a receipt from a housing transfer it may be used to contribute towards the provision of additional low cost housing.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what policy on investment in decent homes standards is followed by his Department for council homes where the tenants and residents have voted neither to transfer to a registered social landlord nor to establish an Arms Length Management Organisation. [180350]

Stock Transfer, Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) and Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) are the only options available to local authorities and tenants to access any extra resources they need to deliver Decent Homes.Where tenants have voted against all these options following full tenant engagement in determining the option voted on, the Government will respect that decision, but no extra funding will be provided. The resources available for investment in Decent Homes will be those currently provided through Housing Subsidy, the Major Repairs Allowance, and what the local authority chooses to make available through the single capital pot and through receipts from any other income.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official visit to India. [180152]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be visiting India later this month on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The visit is an early chance to meet Senior Members of the new Indian Government and to emphasise to them the importance of our strategic partnership with India.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities in England have introduced fees for pre-planning application consultation; and if he will make a statement. [179915]

No central information is available on numbers of local authorities charging for pre-application advice. Councils may make such charges at the present time under their powers to charge for discretionary services in section 98 of the Local Government Act 2003. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently undertaking a review of the scope and level of planning fees and will be publishing a consultation document later in the summer.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the impact of European standards (a) BS EN 1176 and (b) BS EN 1177 on (i) the number of playgrounds in the UK and (ii) the cost of maintaining playgrounds by local authority. [179665]

I have been asked to reply.This department has made no assessment of the impact of European standards BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 on the number of playgrounds in the UK or on the cost of maintaining those playgrounds.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Department's current estimate is of the shortage of houses for affordable rent in each London borough; and if he will make a statement. [179642]

Information on the shortage of affordable houses specifically for rent in London is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. At the end of March 2004, there were 59,000 households in temporary accommodation. Projections for London's population suggest an increase of 336,000 households by 2016. The Mayor's London Plan sets an overall baseline target for the capital of 23,000 new homes per annum (in all sectors and from all sources) and an aspirational target of 30,000 homes per annum. The baseline target is broken down in the London Plan by London borough. The London Plan also has a target that 50 per cent. of new homes should be affordable.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) council and (b) housing association new dwellings for rent he expects to be completed in the current year in each London borough; and what his expectation is for 2005–06. [179643]

The Housing Corporation estimate the following forecasted rent completions by housing associations in London local authorities in 2004–05 and 2005–06:

	Forecasted housing association rent completions
Local authority	2004–05	2005–06
Barking and Dagenham	47	308
Barnet	50	357
Bexley	12	147
Brent	185	628
Bromley	119	138
Camden	187	189
Corporation of London	0	0
Croydon	199	268
Ealing	214	314
Enfield	217	382
Greenwich	215	301
Hackney	289	514

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many employees in his Department have (a) signed a formal opt out from and (b) are exempt from the Working Time Directive; and how many employees in his Department have recorded hours, including any accruing on a flexitime basis, in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the last month for which figures are available. [178365]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has (a) 28 staff who have signed a formal opt out and (b) no staff that are exempt from, the Working Time Directive. Payroll records show that, in April 2004, 40 staff worked in excess of 48 hours in any given week. The Working Time Directive applies where an average of 48 hours a week has been exceeded over a period of 17 weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government in Khartoum have (i) initiated and (ii) had with (A) members and (B) representatives of the Sudanese Government concerning the facilitation of access to Darfur by non-governmental organisations; what specific complaints were raised during those discussions; and if he will make a statement.[179747](2) what assessment his Department has made of the UN Under Secretary-General's statement of 14 June regarding the bureaucratic burden placed on relief agencies trying to reach Darfur in Western Sudan; and if he will make a statement; [179746](3) how many complaints his Department has received from representatives of non-governmental organisations relating to access to Darfur in each of the last eight months; and if he will make a statement; [179748](4) what assessment his Department has made of the Sudanese Government's policy of removing radio equipment from non-governmental organisations' and United Nations' vehicles seeking access to Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [179632]

DFID is facing a humanitarian emergency in Darfur, where the provision of assistance is absolutely vital. In this context, hindrances to the delivery of humanitarian supplies are unacceptable. The UK has been working to facilitate humanitarian access to Darfur, and our Embassy in Khartoum is engaged on a daily basis with the Government of Sudan, although we are making progress, there is still more that needs to be done.I raised the question of issuing visas to Sudan with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in London on 11 May. He gave me a firm commitment that visas for humanitarian personnel working in Darfur would be issued within 48 hours. There has been a marked improvement as a result of this commitment. On 20 May, the Sudanese Government announced the change to a 48 hour notification system for travel to Darfur, replacing the previous requirement for a travel permit. This improvement has also allowed progress on the ground.I raised the question of humanitarian access with the First Vice President the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, and the State Minister for Finance in Khartoum on 8 June, where I was given firm commitments that the Sudanese Government would fast-track customs clearance for humanitarian goods within seven days, and that new international NGOs applying for registration to work in Darfur would be fast-tracked in 10 days. This has resulted in new international NGO registrations. They also agreed that medical supplies that were on an approved list did not need testing before being brought into Sudan. I raised with them the specific complaint from Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland that 200MT of food and 30MT of medical supplies had been held in Port Sudan for three mouths. Both Ministers assured me that this would be released within days. This has now taken place.Following my visit, the British Ambassador has continued to raise on a regular basis the question of humanitarian access to Darfur, including through letters to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and the State Minister in the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs highlighting specific instances of ongoing bureaucratic difficulties. These included outstanding applications for registration from new international NGOs, the need to give 72 hours notice for passengers on UN flights, the need for clarity about the requirements for testing medical and food supplies, the urgency of releasing radio and communications equipment from customs and the need to issue promptly visas for international health staff. We are calling on the Government of Sudan to consider suspending all regulations relating to humanitarian access to Darfur for a period of three months. The Higher Committee on Darfur will meet on 24 June to discuss humanitarian access where we will raise all the outstanding issues. In addition, I intend to speak to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs this week.The UK Government has been in constant dialogue with UK NGOs working in Darfur since September 2003. DFID has held regular meetings with the Disasters and Emergency Committee in London on Darfur. In Khartoum, the Ambassador has taken the lead in establishing regular meetings with the Government of Sudan, NGOs and donors to discuss he question of access to Darfur. It would require disproportionate work to answer the question of how many complaints were received by NGOs in each of the last eight months.DFID has received reports that radios and communications equipments have been held in customs by the Sudanese authorities. Given the essential nature of this equipment for ensuring the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, this is unacceptable. It was raised in the letter from the British Ambassador to the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. I intend to follow up closely on the implementation of all the commitments given by the Government of Sudan about humanitarian access to Darfur and will continue to raise specific instances as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes are supported by his Department to expand and strengthen civil society in Afghanistan. [177118]

DFID is helping to expand and strengthen civil society in Afghanistan by supporting civil society's engagement in the political process. DFID supported the development of the new constitution in 2003 (£500,000). This included an outreach programme to make the wider community aware of the purpose of the Constitution and providing a reasonable understanding of its key features. DFID are now funding Swiss Peace (£500,000) to provide civic education for the Afghan elections and supporting the development of an independent media through our contributions to the Global Conflict Prevention Pool.The UK is funding Action Aid (£157,680) to help increase both knowledge and awareness of the rights of women and women's participation in local governance in Afghanistan. Community level women's groups are being established and small grants made available to help build the resources and confidence of women to work together to seek solutions to common problems. These activities are being supplemented and supported by training and information sharing at the provincial level and a nationwide research project looking at the role of women in local governance in Afghanistan.DFID also funds Government led national development programmes, which are being facilitated by a range of local and international non-governmental organisations. An example is the National Solidarity Programme (£3 million in 2003–04 with additional funding planned), which is building the capacity of hundreds of village development councils across Afghanistan and providing the resources they need to identify and address their own development priorities.DFID also supports the British Agencies in Afghanistan Group (BAAG) here in the UK. This funding helps BAAG act as an effective umbrella group for non-governmental organisations, registered in the UK and working in Afghanistan and also facilitates information sharing and access to Whitehall Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) aid in kind and (b) monetary aid his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to (A) the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (B) the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1) in each year since 1997 and (2) in each month since November 2003; and if he will make a statement. [179751]

The following table shows what has been delivered to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including as aid in kind and monetary aid, from 1997–98 to 2003–04 (latest, provisional figures).Until the installation of the Transitional National Government in July last year, most of our assistance had been directed towards meeting the immediate humanitarian needs in DRC, as the table shows. The nature of humanitarian assistance is such that DFID did not pledge an overall amount but delivered assistance as and when it was necessary. Our overall aid framework for DRC in 2003–04 was £23 million—of which over £20 million was delivered, including £3 million as monetary aid.DFID does not keep central monthly records of pledges or expenditures nor does it break down expenditure specifically by region within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions (a) he and (b) members of his Department have had with representatives of non-governmental organisations concerning the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since he was made Secretary of State for International Development; what concerns were raised; and if he will make a statement; [179752](2) what representations his Department has received from non-governmental organisations concerning access to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement; [179753](3) what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian implications of the decision by the Government of Rwanda to close its border to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement; [179754](4) what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo in

DFID has regular discussions with the UN agencies and NGOs concerning the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Last year, DFID's humanitarian spend was £13 million; this year, a similar amount is available.Following the recent reports of the humanitarian impact of the instability and fighting in Eastern DRC, DFID has sent a humanitarian assessment mission to Goma and Bukavu, which arrived on 22 June 2004. This mission intends to assess and respond to the growing humanitarian problem, working alongside our partner UN agencies and NGOs to assist the most vulnerable populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid the UK is sending (a) unilaterally and (b) as part of the EU to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [179301]

For the financial year 2004–05, DFID has made available £34 million in UK bilateral assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the financial year 2003–04, UK bilateral assistance amounted to over £20 million.For 2002–07, the UK-attributed contribution to the European Development Fund framework for the DRC is £17 million. In 2003–04, UK-attributed spend through the EU was –9 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people have left employment in his Department because of (a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997. [175676]

Given the very small numbers of staff who have been medically retired from DFID on these grounds since 1997 this information is withheld on grounds of individual confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) his Department and (b) the EU are spending in 2004–05 to counter HIV/AIDS in the Russian Federation. [179951]

DFID's forecasted bilateral expenditure on HIV/AIDS in the Russian Federation in financial year 2004–05 is £1.83 million. The EU estimate their expenditure in 2004 will be of the order of €2 to 2.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who decided upon the payments from the Development Fund for Iraq to the US Army Corps of Engineers; what it was for; who the principal contractors were; who decided who the principal contractors would be; and if he will make a statement. [179797]

Procurement and contracting under the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) are the responsibility of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).The CPA has contracted the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to carry out certain emergency and essential work in Iraq, which is co-funded by the DFI and the US Government. Most of the DFI contracts, and most of the contract value, for which the USACE is responsible are in rebuilding gas and hydro-electric power plants and oil infrastructure. The principal contractors to date are: Fluor Intercontinental, Washington International, CH2MHILL, Parsons Iraqi Joint Venture and Kellogg Brown and Root.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list those who have had sole-sourced contracts funded by the Development Fund for Iraq; which contracts are of a value of $1,000,000 or more; and if he will make a statement. [179798]

A list of sole-sourced contracts funded by the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) is not available at this time.The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) is currently undertaking an audit of DFI sole-sourced contracts on behalf of the international community. As a member of the Program Review Board of the DFI, the UK has been a strong advocate of international competitive tendering wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been purchased under the wheat purchase programme funded by the Development Fund for Iraq; at what cost; who was contracted to supply it; what the world price for wheat was at the time of purchase; over what time scale the wheat is supplied; under which disbursement heading it is included; how it is distributed within Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [179799]

The Government of Iraq established the public food distribution system in 1990. This system of untargeted rationing has proved to be hugely costly to the Government and has undermined the country's domestic agriculture. DFID hopes to work with the Iraqi Interim Government and other donors to help reform this system, to the benefit of both Iraq's consumers and farmers, as soon as conditions allow.The amount of wheat actually purchased by the Government each year depends on the content of the "ration basket", which is decided by the Ministry of Trade (MOT) each month, depending on domestic production and existing stocks within the country. Published MOT budget information does not show the breakdown of the costs of individual public food distribution items but it is estimated that 3.5 million metric tonnes of wheat flour is required annually for the standard ration basket. Over the 12 months since the creation of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), if all of Iraq's public distribution system needs had been met from imports at world prices, the cost would have been around $700 million. This is likely to be an over-estimate since there would be some domestic purchases and use of stocks.The major suppliers of wheat to Iraq are Australia and the US.International export prices for wheat vary greatly depending on grade and freight distances but an average figure for 2003–04 is about $200/tonne.The MOT is responsible for purchasing grain from overseas and from domestic producers, for organising the milling contracts and the transport of the milled wheat flour to food agents.The following process describes how the food ration is distributed:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what dates the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority Program Review Board has met; which meetings were attended by the representative of the Government of the United Kingdom; what votes were conducted at these meetings; what the result was of each vote; and how the UK representative voted on each occasion. [179801]

The Program Review Board (PRB) meets once or twice each week. Precise dates are shown on the minutes of each meeting which are published on the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) website: iraqcoalition.org/program_review_board. The UK is represented at all PRB meetings.The PRB votes on each project proposal. The minutes do not record the vote of individual members. Proposals pass on a majority or unanimous vote.The UK votes in a manner consistent with UNSCR 1483, which established the Development Fund for Iraq (DPI) to be "used in a transparent manner to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, for the economic reconstruction and repair of Iraq's infrastructure, for the continued disarmament of Iraq, and for the costs of Iraqi civilian administration, and for other purposes benefiting the people of Iraq". In its voting the UK aims to support the intentions of the Iraq Ministries of Finance and Planning and to promote the principles of international competitive tendering.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 June 2004, Official Report, columns 668–69W, on Iraq, if his Department will obtain a copy of the US Government Agency audits of sole-sourced contracts funded by the Development Fund for Iraq; what provision there is for consideration of the copy audits when the Coalition Provisional Authority no longer exists; who approves contractors for expenditure proposals approved by the Development Fund for Iraq Program Review Board; and if he will make a statement. [179802]

The external audit of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) has been delegated by UN Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003) to the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB). The IAMB acts on behalf of the international community and has requested copies of certain US Government audit reports as part of its current work programme. The IAMB undertakes to make all its proceedings and final reports public (within 30 days of being finalised). UN Security Council Regulation 1546(2004) paragraph 24 provides for the continuation of the IAMB after the dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the return to Iraqi sovereignty.The approval of contractors for expenditure proposals endorsed by the Program Review Board of the Development Fund for Iraq is undertaken by the CPA.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the assistance his Department has offered to the Moroccan Government for the victims of the 24 February earthquake in the Rif region. [180133]

The earthquake that affected the Al-Hoceima region of Morocco on 24 February 2004 measured 6.5 degrees on the Richter scale. It claimed over 600 lives and injured nearly 1,000.UK search and rescue teams were put on immediate stand-by but in the event were not required as the Moroccan civil authorities and Red Crescent movement, supported by some international teams, coped adequately with that phase of the relief effort. Following discussion with the Moroccan Government about priority needs, DFID sent an aircraft with 402 winterised family tents to the earthquake area. The tents were distributed to earthquake victims by the Moroccan Protection Civile, supported by two DFID staff. The cost of the relief flight and tents was approximately £155,000. The European Commission also responded to the relief effort committing approximately £650,000 of support. Including the UK share of this support, the overall UK response was around £280,000.On 24 May 2004, the Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, announced that the Moroccan Government have earmarked a £165 million budget to rehabilitate and develop the quake-hit north-eastern region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people employed by his Department have worked on harm reduction programmes (a) for and (b) in the Russian Federation. [179936]

DFID currently employs nine staff which are involved in our work on HIV/AIDS, including managing harm reduction activities, in Russia. Eight are based in the DFID—Russia office in Moscow, one in London. Five are administrators, four are advisers. Also, over the last five years DFID has employed three Consultancy Companies involving 16 individual experts on four harm reduction projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact on harm reduction programmes supported by his Department in the Russian Federation of the (a) 1995 Federal Law on the Prevention of Dissemination in the Russian Federation of Disease Caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus and (b) the 1998 Federal Law on Narcotic Means and Psychotropic Substances. [179937]

DFID funded a project entitled "Building Police Support for Harm Reduction" from August 2001 to December 2003. The project was contracted to International Family Health, and its purpose was to involve the Russian police as an integral part of harm reduction strategies. One output of this work was a report by Professor William E. Butler, Professor of Comparative Law, University of London, which sought to examine and clarify a range of issues on harm reduction in Russia from a legal and judicial perspective.This report (published by International Family Health: ISBN 0–9545761–0–1) included an assessment of the impact of these and other Russian federal laws on harm reduction programmes in Russia and concluded that the provision of harm reduction services in Russia, in particular services for injecting drug users, is consistent with Russian law. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), Open Health Institute (OHI), AIDS Foundation East West (AFEW) and others, are continuing to work on the legal issues affecting harm reduction.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what account has been taken by (a) his Department and (b) the European Union of Article 15 (4) of the 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation in support for harm reduction programmes in the federation. [179938]

DFID has taken account of the prevailing view among Russian and international jurists that, on the whole, the Russian Federation has properly fulfilled its international legal duties under relevant international law relevant to harm reduction, including the United Nations Narcotics Conventions.The EU is supporting HIV/AIDS projects in Russia, including information, education and communication campaigns and training for health personnel, but is not supporting the pro vision of targeted harm reduction services for vulnerable groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the HIV/Aids projects in the Russian Federation that received financial support from his Department in 2003–04. [179939]

The following HIV/AIDS projects in the Russian Federation, including projects not principally related to HIV/AIDS but which contained an HIV/AIDS component, received financial support from DFID in 2003–04:

Project title	2003–04 spend (£)
Open Health Institute Harm Reduction Bridging Project	1,589,483
Knowledge for Action for HIV/AIDS in the Russian Federation	645,793
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships: Comprehensive Partnership Strategies for HIV/STI Prevention among Young People in the Russian Federation	457,046
Development of a Public Health-Based Approach to the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Samara	75,582

Project title	Purpose	Duration	DFID funding (£)
Open Health Institute Harm Reduction Bridging Project*	To reduce the transmission of HIV among injecting drug users and commercial sex workers in OHI-supported harm reduction sites in the Russian Federation	July 2001-August 2004	3,500,000
Knowledge for Action for HIV/AIDS in the Russian Federation	To create the knowledge base on HIV in the Russian Federation necessary to guide effective policy and intervention	September 2002–August 2005	1,500,000
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships: Comprehensive Partnership Strategies for HIV/STI Prevention among Young People in the Russian Federation*	To reduce the incidence of HIV/STIs among young people, especially girls and young women, by ensuring the availability of and access to information, education, health services, counselling for HIV, testing and commodities required for young people to develop and exercise effective life skills	June 2002–November 2004	1,125,000
Development of a Public Health-based Approach to the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Samara*	To develop sustainable, high quality STI services in Samara and disseminate successful approaches at federal level	September 1998–March 2004	981,146
Prevention of HIV/AIDS among Injecting Drug Users in Sverdlovsk Oblast*	To improve and develop preventative public education programmes on HIV/AIDS, with a special focus on injecting drug use	April 1998–April 2003	775,334
UNAIDS Regional Harm Reduction Task Force: Capacity Expansion	To strengthen the capacity of the UNAIDS Regional Task Force on HIV prevention among injecting drug users in Eastern Europe	September 2000–November 2002	450,000
Comprehensive Targeted HIV Prevention and Control Demonstration Project (Design Phase)	Design phase. Planned purpose was to establish integrated programmes of targeted HIV prevention activities in two localities at a scale sufficient to control the epidemic and in order to convince policymakers that such investment is worthwhile.	October 2002–April 2003	337,787
Building Police Support for Harm Reduction	To involve the police as an integral part of harm reduction	August 2001–March 2004	489,891
Assistance to the World Bank for the Russia TB/AIDS Control Project	Technical assistance for the design of a $150 million World Bank loan on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS control.	May 2000–April 2002	200,000
Harm Reduction Project	To reduce transmission of HIV among injecting drug users in Sverdlovsk by developing a co-ordinated harm reduction programme	December 1999–March 2001	35,949
11th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug-Related Harm: Project Planning Activities	To assist in developing a large-scale project on reducing drug related harm in Russia	April 2000–April 2001	60,081
Harm Reduction Conference, New Delhi	To provide funding for 20 Russian delegates to attend the Harm Reduction Conference in New Delhi	April 2001–October 2001	41,405

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the harm reduction projects in the Russian Federation that received financial support from his Department in each of the last seven years. [179940]

DFID has provided financial support for the following projects related to harm reduction in the past seven years. The projects marked with an asterisk have supported the provision of harm reduction services to high risk groups:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Sudan, (b) the UN and (c) non-governmental organisation on barriers preventing aid being delivered to Darfur. [179300]

DFID is facing a humanitarian emergency in Darfur, where the provision of assistance is absolutely vital. In this context, hindrances to the delivery of humanitarian supplies are unacceptable. The UK has been working to facilitate humanitarian access to Darfur and we are making progress, although there is still more that needs to be done.I raised the question of issuing visas to Sudan with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in London on 11 May. He gave me a firm commitment that visas for humanitarian personnel working in Darfur would be issued within 48 hours. There has been a marked improvement as a result of this commitment. On 20 May, the British Ambassador met with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, following which he announced the change to a 48 hour notification system for travel to Darfur, replacing the previous requirement for a travel permit. This improvement has also allowed progress on the ground, although there have been some outstanding issues regarding local level implementation and the rules pertaining to notification of passengers on World Food Programme (WFP) flights.I raised the question of humanitarian access with the First Vice President, in Khartoum, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, and the State Minister for Finance on 8 June, where I was given firm commitments that the Sudanese Government would fast-track customs clearance for humanitarian goods within seven days, and that new international NGOs applying for registration to work in Darfur would be fast-tracked in 10 days. This has resulted in new international NGO registrations. They also agreed that medical supplies that were on an approved list did not need testing before being brought into Sudan. I raised with them the specific complaint from Medecin Sans Frontieres—Holland that 200MT of food and 30MT of medical supplies had been held in Port Sudan for three months. Both Ministers assured me that this would be released within days. This has now taken place.Following my visit, the British Ambassador wrote to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and the State Minister in the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs highlighting specific instances of on-going bureaucratic difficulties about access to Darfur faced by NGOs. These included outstanding applications for registration from new International NGOs, the need to give 72 hours notice for passengers on UN flights, the need for clarity about the requirements for testing medical and food supplies, the urgency of releasing radio and communications equipment from customs and the need to issue promptly visas for international health staff. An inter-agency technical committee on Darfur meets regularly to discuss questions of humanitarian access and is attended by the British Ambassador. The next meeting will take place on 23rd June, where all these outstanding questions will be raised. Following the outcome of that meeting, I intend to speak to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the recent statements by the UN that the Sudan Government is stopping aid reaching western Darfur. [179535]

I am gravely concerned about the constraints on humanitarian assistance to Darfur. Despite some improvements to visa and travel notification procedures for Darfur announced on 20 May, NGOs and the UN are still facing bureaucratic problems with customs clearance and notification for travel on UN flights to Darfur. DFID has have been in constant dialogue with the Government of Sudan on this issue. The UK has been working to facilitate humanitarian access to Darfur and we are making progress, although there is still more that needs to be done.I raised the question of issuing visas to Sudan with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in London on 11 May. He gave me a firm commitment that visas for humanitarian personnel working in Darfur would be issued within 48 hours. There has been a marked improvement as a result of this commitment. On 20 May, the British Ambassador met with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, following which he announced the change to a 48 hour notification system for travel to Darfur, replacing the previous requirement for a travel permit. This improvement has also allowed progress on the ground, although there have been some outstanding issues regarding local level implementation and the rules pertaining to notification of passengers on World Food Programme (WFP) flights.I raised the question of humanitarian access with the First Vice President, In Khartoum the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, and the State Minister for Finance on 8 June, where I was given firm commitments that the Sudanese Government would fast-track customs clearance for humanitarian goods within seven days, and that new international NGOs applying for registration to work in Darfur would be fast-tracked in ten days. This has resulted in new international NGO registrations. They also agreed that medical supplies that were on an approved list did not need testing before being brought into Sudan. I raised with them the specific complaint from Medecin Sans Frontieres-Holland that 200MT of food and 30MT of medical supplies had been held in Port Sudan for 3 months. Both Ministers assured me that this would be released within days. This has now taken place.Following my visit, the British Ambassador wrote to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs highlighting specific instances of on-going bureaucratic difficulties about access to Darfur faced by NGOs. These included outstanding applications for registration from new international NGOs, the need to give 72 hours notice for passengers on UN flights, the need for clarity about the requirements for testing medical and food supplies, the urgency of releasing radio and communications equipment from customs and the need to issue promptly visas for international health staff. An inter-agency technical committee on Darfur meets regularly to discuss questions of humanitarian access and is attended by the British Ambassador. The next meeting will take place on 23 June, where all these outstanding questions will be raised. Following the outcome of that meeting, I intend to speak to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.On my return from Sudan, I spoke to the UN Secretary General about the need for humanitarian access in Darfur. I have also been in correspondence with the Heads of UN agencies and have spoken to Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF and James Morris, Executive Director of WFP about the experience of their agencies in delivering assistance in Darfur.The UK Government have been in constant dialogue with UK NGOs working in Darfur since September 2003. We have held regular meetings with the Disasters and Emergency Committee in London on Darfur, and have been in frequent contact with the Sudanese Embassy. In Khartoum, the Ambassador has taken the lead in establishing regular meetings with the Government of Sudan, NGOs and donors to discuss the question of access to Darfur.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid he is giving to the World Food Programme support to the Saharan refugee camps. [179299]

DFID's assistance to the Saharawi refugees is channelled through contributions to the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), rather than in the form of direct DFID support. DFID believes that this collaborative approach towards funding, alongside our international partners, represents the best way of addressing the problems faced by the refugees' population.The EC is in the process of agreeing €8 million of humanitarian aid for the Saharawi refugees living in the Tindouf region for the period of 15 months from 1 June 2004. ECHO has also supported the Saharawi refugees through similar decisions in 2003 and 2002. For the period from 1 June 2004, €6.62 million has been allocated for ensuring the stability of food supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) is a potential partner for delivery of this assistance but this has not yet been confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1561W, on departmental publications, what body or organisation is responsible for producing each publication. [178923]

The answer is in a table which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost of her Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [178792]

The cost for the Department's headquarters website, www.dti.gov.uk, is included in the overall service charge paid under the IT service contract which has been in place since April 1999. There is no separation of website costs in this charge. The costs of the agency websites for the financial year 2003–04, including VAT, are:

£000
Agency	Cost
Companies House	245
The Patent Office	130
The Insolvency Service	53.6
The Small Business Service	275
The Employment Tribunals Service	33.5
The National Weights and Measures Laboratory	36

In addition, I am the sponsor for the cross-departmental Business.gov programme, which includes the Businesslink.gov website. The cost for the development of this major programme in 2003–04, including the former businesslink.org site which it replaced in November 2003, was £14.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the effect, in the event of the loss of the British Grand Prix, on (a) revenues in the motorsport sector, (b) jobs in the motorsport sector and (c) outsourcing of research and development and specialist engineering projects to the UK; [177236](2) what assessment her Department has made of the significance of the British Grand Prix to the success of the UK motorsport cluster. [177237]

[holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Motorsport Competitiveness Panel, co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Mr. Paul Barron, made an assessment of all factors influencing the success of the UK motorsport industry. It concluded that retention in the UK of "world-class motorsport events", including the Formula One Grand Prix, the Motorcycle Grand Prix and the Wales Rally GB was important both economically and in maintaining the public profile of the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motorsport companies use Business Links; and how many motorsport companies have applied for research and development tax credits. [177238]Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally hence the information requested cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives her Department has undertaken to promote inward investment in the British motorsport industry. [177239]

[holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Department is working as part of the Government Motorsport Unit (GMU) to attract further investment to the UK's world-leading motorsport industry. International trade and inward investment are key areas of delivery for the GMU and £2 million has been set aside to support this work over the next five years.Initiatives that have already been undertaken, in collaboration with industry bodies, include promotion of the sector at the annual Autosport Engineering and Performance Racing Industry trade shows in the UK and USA respectively. These activities are designed to encourage overseas joint ventures and alliances by UK companies as well as inward investment. Future initiatives will be undertaken based upon industry priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to develop the Motorsport Valley brand for promoting (a) the motorsport industry and (b) motorsport-related tourism.[177450]

[holding answer 7 June 2004]: In common with other motorsport-related issues, the Department's activities in this area are taken forward through the Government Motorsport Unit (GMU), which includes both central Departments and regional agencies.In 2003, the Motorsport Valley brand was used as part of a high-profile inward investment promotion by the four regions concerned (East and West Midlands, South East and East of England). These agencies put forward a united message under the Motorsport Valley banner at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis, USA. The promotion was well received and further plans are being taken forward with the relevant industry bodies.The brand is also used to promote motorsport tourism through a website: www.visitmotorsportvalley.com and an associated national motorsport map. These activities aim to reach a broader audience than traditional motorsport enthusiasts. This initiative is once again being taken forward on a collaborative basis by the four regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2004, Official Report, column 959W, on deregulation, what formal assessment her Department has made of the negative economic impact of obsolete EU regulation. [179969]

The Department has not carried out a formal assessment of the economic impact of obsolete EU regulation. In part, this obsolete legislation consists of a number of legal acts with time-limited application (e.g. the fixing of agricultural prices in a given harvest year, or the grant of a particular time-limited status, derogation or financial support to a member state or other entity). This type of obsolete legislation would therefore not have an economic impact once it is no longer applicable. The European Commission is currently taking steps to remove such legislation, along with other measures to secure a reliable, up-to-date and user-friendly body of EC law as described in its February 2003 Communication, "Updating and Simplifying the Community Acquis" (COM (2003) 71).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of UK steel production and US tariffs on UK steel. [180060]

The overall prospects for UK steel production look encouraging. According to the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau, UK steel production rose by 4.9 per cent. in March 2004 and by 7.2 per cent. to reach 3.3 million tonnes for the first quarter of 2004. The UK monthly total was the second highest in over two years. World demand is strong largely as a result of the expansion of the Chinese economy. In terms of the UK steel market, the most recent CBI Business Survey shows manufacturing in a more positive light with output expected to increase over the next three months at its fastest pace since 1999.I am pleased that following a ruling of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, which was subsequently confirmed by an Appeal Panel, President Bush removed safeguard tariffs on steel on 4 December 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the granting of a licence to Wessex Exploration to survey for oil in the occupied land of the Western Sahara; and what the status is of the UN policy towards such exploitation. [179312]

[holding answer 18 June 2004]: I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what policy is in place in respect of returning to Zimbabwe persons residing in Northern Ireland who have had their application for asylum refused, or who otherwise fall outside the criteria for protection under the immigration legislation;. [179996](2) if he will ensure that no persons seeking asylum in Northern Ireland from Zimbabwe will be returned to Zimbabwe against their will. [180011]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes) on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 263W, setting out the Government's position on the return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. This policy applies equally to Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Zimbabwean nationals are residing in Northern Ireland; how many Zimbabwean asylum seekers have been successful on their initial application for asylum; how many cases are under appeal to the Immigration Appellate Authority, the Immigration Appeal Tribunal or higher courts; and how many Zimbabwean asylum seekers who were initially refused have been subsequently successful after exhausting appeal rights. [180018]

There were 289 Zimbabwean nationals residing in Northern Ireland in 2001, based on the results of the Northern Ireland Census of 2001.As at the end of December 2003 there were 10 Zimbabwean asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation in Northern Ireland. There were no Zimbabwean asylum seekers in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS in Northern Ireland.4,175 initial decisions were made on asylum applications from nationals of Zimbabwe in 2003, of which 870 were granted asylum, 30 were granted Exceptional Leave to Remain, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave and 3,275 were refused.Information on the number of Zimbabwean asylum seekers' cases that are awaiting appeal outcomes is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical means, with particular reference to air transport, has been arranged for failed asylum seekers to return to (a) Iraq and (b) Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [174250]

We announced in February our intention to begin enforced returns to Iraq. We are working to finalise the practicalities of the enforced returns programme, which we will implement as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.In addition since July last year the Home Office has been facilitating, without incident, the return of small numbers of Iraqi citizens who want to return home through the International Organisation for Migration.Zimbabwe is the only country to which, as a matter of policy we do not at present generally enforce the return of failed asylum seekers. This policy is based not on asylum or human rights reasons but on our view that in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe. It would be inappropriate to return failed asylum seekers applicable at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of successful asylum applications were made in this country in 2003; and what proportion of those were denied asylum support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [179929]

Information on the UK's share of asylum applications in Europe in 2003 that resulted in grants of refugee status (including appeal outcome) is not available. In terms of applications per head of the population, the UK ranked 9th in Europe in 2003.Information on the proportion of applications in the UK in 2003 that resulted in grants of refugee status is not yet available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Outcomes of applications for asylum depend on the merit of individual cases, and situations in countries of origin.The eligibility for support under section 55 was considered by the National Asylum Support Service for a total of 14,760 cases in 2003, of which 9,410 asylum seekers (excluding dependants) were notified that they were ineligible. Some applicants notified that they are ineligible for support under section 55, apply nevertheless and these are shown in the published statistics within the "Invalid" support type category. Information on the numbers refused support under section 55 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.An estimation of the outcomes of applications for asylum in the UK made in 2003, up to and including appeal at the IAA, will be included in the Home Office annual statistical "bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2003". It is planned to publish the bulletin at the end of August 2004, and it will be available from the Library or on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers denied support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in the first quarter of 2004 who claimed asylum within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four days of their arrival in the UK. [179931]

Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 came into force on 8 January 2003, restricting the availability of NASS support to those asylum seekers who make an asylum application as soon as reasonably practicable. From 17 December 2003 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that those who could give a credible account that their asylum claim was made within three days of arrival in the United Kingdom will normally be accepted as having applied as soon as reasonably practicable.The eligibility for support under section 55 was considered by the National Asylum Support Service for a total of 2,650 cases in the first quarter (January-March 2004). The number of asylum seekers, excluding dependants, notified that they were ineligible for NASS support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in the first quarter of 2004 was 890. A breakdown of this figure by the number of days taken to claim asylum after arrival in the UK is unavailable and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Some applicants notified that they are ineligible for support under section 55 apply nevertheless and these are shown in the published statistics within the "Invalid" support type category.Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published in the quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", available from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant asylum applicants from Zimbabwe the right to work while they remain in the United Kingdom. [179998]

Generally speaking asylum seekers are not allowed to work while their application for asylum remains outstanding. There remains discretion to grant permission to work in exceptional circumstances. This discretion is exercised sparingly but might be appropriate in cases where an asylum seeker has, through no fault of their own, waited for longer than 12 months for an initial decision on their claim. It would not be appropriate to grant permission to work to asylum seekers based on their nationality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unsuccessful asylum applicants from Zimbabwe, residing in Northern Ireland, have exhausted all appeal rights but have not been returned to Zimbabwe. [180004]

Information on the number of asylum seekers who have exhausted their rights of appeal is not readily available and could only be obtained by examination of individual case files to obtain information on the final outcomes from each tier of the appeal process. This would incur disproportionate cost. No information on the number of unsuccessful asylum seekers awaiting removal is available, partly because some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average current applicants have had to wait to receive their papers after an asylum application has been granted at (a) initial stage and (b) after appeal. [180005]

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The latest published statistics show that the speed of processing asylum applications continues to improve significantly. Eighty per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and 3rd country cases

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what length of time assessors allow for the scrutiny of an application for asylum. [180009]

Each asylum claim is considered on its merits and there is no specific time limit for the scrutiny of an individual claim. However, the Government target is to decide and serve 75 per cent. of new asylum applications within two months of the application date. The latest published statistics show that this target is being met. 80 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and 3rd country cases¹) received in the period April to December 2003 had initial decisions made and served within two months.