To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the size of the (a) British and (b) Spanish fishing fleet (i) is and (ii) was in 1997; and what estimate she has made of the size of each fleet in 2006. [183340]

The information available is given in the table. No estimate has been made of the anticipated size of the UK fleet in 2006, and an estimate for the Spanish fleet is also not available.

	Number of vessels	Gross tonnage(tonnes)3	Engine power (Kw)
UKfleet1:
As at 31 December 1996	8,667	274,532	1,054,927
As at 31 December 2003	7,271	234,037	918,258
Spanish fleet 2:
As at 31 December 1996	18,244	603,249	1,537,453
As at 31 December 2003	14,579	489,002	1,200,712
1 Data for the UK fishing fleet incorporate estimates for the fleets of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
2 Analysis of EC Fishing Vessel Register data provided by EUROSTAT.
3 Tonnage data for the UK fleet incorporate the effect of the remeasurement of vessels onto a Gross Tonnage basis from other methodologies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of refurbishments to the fabric of the Department's buildings in each year since May 1997. [184379]

Expenditure on fabric refurbishment each year since the Department's creation in 2001 was:

	£
2001–2002	850,000
2002–2003	3,525,000
2003–2004	2,464,799

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to reverse the amendments to EU Regulation 1774–2002 which prevent the import of by-products for use in development of diagnostic techniques and equipment. [183348]

The Government fully supports the intention of EU Regulation 1774–2002 to provide effective control on the use and importation of animal by-products. However, we recognise that in the case of certain products of particular importance to the development of diagnostic techniques and equipment, the rules on import may not be fully justified by the risk to animal or public health presented by the products.Following a meeting with industry representatives on 1 July, we have written to the European Commission asking them to reconsider the application of the current import requirements to these products. Officials attending the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 14 July will also raise the issue.We are keeping industry contacts informed of progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for judicial review were made against English Nature in the High Court in each year between 1997 and 2003 by (a) individuals, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) corporate entities. [181514]

There were no applications for judicial review made against English Nature between 1997 and 2000. Details of applications made between 2001 and 2003 are as follows:

	Individuals	Non-governmental organizations	Corporate entities
High court
2001	1	None	11
2002	1	None	None
2003	None	None	11
1 English Nature were co-defendants with the Secretary of State

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many judicial reviews brought against English Nature in the (a) High Court and (b) Court of Appeal between 1997 and 2003 (i) were successful and (ii) resulted in an order for costs being made against the applicant; and what costs were awarded in each case. [181522]

English Nature has been successful in all proceedings brought between 1997 and 2003. Details are as follows:

One application for Judicial Review was made to the High Court, against English Nature, by an individual (2001). This was unsuccessful and no costs were awarded against that individual.

One Judicial Review heard by the High Court, brought by a company against English Nature as co-defendant with the Secretary of State, was successfully defended (2001). English Nature were awarded £117,500 (inc VAT) for their part of the costs. There was no appeal made to the Court of Appeal.

Two further cases have been heard in the High Court:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to assist fishing families suffering hardship. [183353]

We have taken substantial measures in recent years to address the issues facing those affected by the state of the fishing industry. £85 million of grant has been available to the UK industry in 2001–04 under the Structural Funds programme plus further amounts for specific schemes in various parts of the UK. This has included funds to promote increased competitiveness in the industry and enable vessel owners to leave the industry by decommissioning their vessels.The Prime Minister commissioned his Strategy Unit to recommend action to create a stable future both for the industry and for the communities which depend upon it. We are now preparing to draw up an action plan with stakeholders to take forward the recommendations in the Unit's report "Net Benefits: A sustainable and profitable future for UK fishing".Regional Development Agencies, local Business Links, Learning and Skills Councils and Job Centre Plus provide expert support to communities affected by the depletion of fish stocks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible have been (a) established and (b) abolished since 1997. [182950]

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was established in June 2001, at which time Defra was responsible for 57 NDPBs¹ Since then the number of NDPBs established and abolished are as follows:

	NDPBs established	NDPBs abolished
June 2001—March 20022	1	3
Apirl 2002—March 2003	2	2
Apirl 2003—March 2004	3	3
1Number includes 2 public corporations
2 These figures are sourced from "Public Bodies". In "Public Bodies 2001" a DTI sponsored NDPB was included in Defra's return and our two public corporations were listed as an Executive NDPB and a Nationalised Industry. These were printer's errors and the figures above are correct even though they do not directly correlate with "Public Bodies".

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she proposes to strengthen rural proofing at regional level. [183913]

The application of rural proofing principles at all levels of government, both in policy formulation and delivery, makes an essential contribution to our aim of building sustainable rural communities. The rural teams in all the non-London Government Offices play a leading role, as the latest Countryside Agency's Rural Proofing Report makes clear and will continue to bring rural proofing into all major policy workstreams at regional and sub-regional levels, including those of the Regional Development Agencies. Joint publications by the Regional Development Agencies show how they are approaching their work with a clear focus on Sustainable Development.The Regional White Paper 'Your Region, Your Choice' makes rural policy one of the functions of the proposed Elected Regional Assemblies, and Regional Housing Boards are required to rural proof their policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many hospitals there are in Iraq; and at what capacity they are running. [184272]

According to the May 2004 Iraq Humanitarian Assistance Report, there are 240 hospitals and 1,200 primary health care clinics employing over 100,000 health workers. There are no statistics available showing what capacity these hospitals are running at. Preliminary indicators that are available show a doctor to population ratio at five per 10,000, which is satisfactory, but a severe shortage of nurses with only an estimated total of 12,000 active in the health sector.There are many challenges facing the health sector in Iraq. DFID's main support to date has been to help ensure that the Ministry of Health can call on expertise to help them restore essential services. DFID has provided £5 million to the World Health Organisation to enable them to work with the Iraqis on these issues. Additional DFID support is being channelled through the multi-donor World Bank and United Nations trust funds, to which DFID has made an initial contribution of £70 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what percentage of the UK aid budget was committed to EU development spending in each year since 1990. [184772]

The following table provides the information from financial year 1990–91 to 2002–03, the latest year for which figures are available.

Percentage of UK aid budget to the European Commission (EC)
		£ million
	European Commission	EC percentage of total DFID programme
1990–91	317	19
1991–92	413	21
1992–93	464	22
1993–94	516	23

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list those countries which meet the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product on international aid; if he will list those countries which have set a date by which they will do so; and if he will make a statement. [184135]

Countries that already meet the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on official development assistance are:

• Denmark
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden

Other countries that have set a date by which they will reach the 0.7 per cent. target are:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the travel costs were of civil servants in (a) his Department and (b) its related agencies in each year since 1997. [183893]

The figures reflect domestic and overseas travel. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's staff handbook, which reflects the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. Figures for earlier years are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for travel costs within administration costs budgets for years for which information is readily available are as follows.

	£
	Amount
2001–02	2,358,000
2002–03	2,645,000

In 2003–04 DFID introduced new procedures to capture administration costs, which had previously been recorded on the programme budget. This included travel expenditure, previously incurred by overseas offices, which constitutes the bulk of official travel. These changes will increase transparency and enable DFID to manage administrative costs more effectively, but means that 2003–04 figures are not comparable with earlier years.

	£
	Amount
2003–041	10,715,000
1Provisional

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to meet regional planning guidance targets for affordable housing provision in the South West; and why the Housing Corporation is planning to fund fewer new homes per year for 2004 to 2006 in the South West than the 2001 Regional Planning Guidance target. [185181]

The policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3)—is not to set region-wide targets or quotas for affordable housing. Targets are more appropriately set at the local level as they are, necessarily, derived from local circumstances and assessments. The figures set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) are, therefore, not a target but an indicator against which the provision of affordable housing can be monitored. Although better quality information than currently available is needed to assess how we are progressing against this indicator, we do know that we are not yet providing sufficient affordable homes. That is why the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has accepted Kate Barker's recommendation that there should be a step-change in housing supply. Over the coming months, we will be consulting on a package of proposals designed to achieve this, including the provision of independent advice to the Regions, which should improve significantly our ability to deliver and monitor the provision of affordable homes.The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also committing more resources to the delivery of affordable homes—the 2004 Spending Review will allow us to increase new social house building by 50 per cent. The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) for the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06 is worth £188.2 million and will deliver approximately 6,000 affordable homes in the South West. However, the ADP is not the only means available to deliver affordable housing. The planning system also provides local authorities with other tools to deliver affordable homes.PPG3 requires that Local Planning authorities should plan to meet the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of affordable and special needs housing. The provision of affordable housing is a local authority responsibility and should be made on the basis of robust local assessments of needs. Where need is clearly demonstrated for affordable housing, this should be taken into account in formulating development plan policies and in deciding planning applications involving housing.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress is being made in the take-up of the Coalfield Enterprise Fund, with particular reference to south Yorkshire. [184109]

The Coalfields Enterprise Fund is a venture capital fund aimed at investing in small and medium-sized companies with growth potential in the former coalfields. The Deputy Prime Minster announced the Fund on 26 March this year.The fund manager has embarked upon a comprehensive marketing and promotional programme to establish the fund across the former coalfield areas including south Yorkshire.As at the 13 July 2004 the Fund Manager had received a total of 27 applications for investment, of which 12 are in the former Yorkshire coalfield areas. Of these, four have been rejected as not fulfilling the Fund's investment criteria and eight are receiving further consideration.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total amount paid in allowances to councillors was in each of the London boroughs in 2003–04. [184281]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The setting of local allowance levels is a matter for each local authority, taking into account its local circumstances and the views of its independent remuneration panel.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in house prices in Portsmouth was in each of the last five years. [184351]

The annual percentage change in residential property prices in Portsmouth for each of the last five years is tabled as follows:

	Average price (all dwellings)(£)	Percentage change over previous year
1999	71,185	+ 8.9
2000	185 85	+ 20.0
2001	95.911	+12.3
2002	117.161	+22.2
2003	137,435	+17.3
Notes:
1. The figures exclude any transactions believed to be below market value;
2. Over the period 1999–2003 the average number of property sales included in the figures was about 5,400 per annum.
Source:
Land Registry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will make an assessment of the success of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184609]

Reliable information on the effect of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003 on Right to Buy sales is not yet available. Many sales in 2003–04 resulted from applications made by tenants before the order came into effect on 27 March 2003. The Government are keeping the question of maximum Right to Buy discounts under review.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to expand into new areas the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184610]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to lower the maximum discount available to tenants under the Right to Buy scheme in any other areas, but we are keeping the question under review.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184611]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a number of representations on this order, from individual tenants, social landlords, and other organisations. Some have criticised the Government's decision to lower the maximum amount of discount available to tenants under the Right to Buy scheme in 41 areas under the greatest housing pressure, while others have supported it.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Treasury on boosting affordable housing investment in the South West in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2004. [183991]

I refer my hon. Friend to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement to the House on 13 July. By 2008, we will have more than doubled spending on new affordable housing in England since 1997, reaching £2.25 billion in 2008. This will be funded through direct investment, the private finance initiative programme and efficiencies in procurement.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be looking carefully at how the funds for direct investment, including the additional funding for 2006–07 and 2007–08 for high demand areas, are split between regions. This needs to reflect the pattern of needs between regions and the Government's national priorities and targets. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is looking to complete this work by the end of the year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much additional brownfield land he expects to be used for home building as a result of his announcement of 13 July. [184827]

Number of local authority new lettings made in Northampton area
Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–041
New secure	1,316	1,186	1,295	1,218	1,080	—
Introductory	0	0	0	0	0	—
Other (e.g. licence)	12	14	13	8	2	—
Total	1,328	1,200	1,308	1,226	1,082	—
1Data not yet available for 2003–04.

Number of RSL new lettings made in Northampton area
Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Fair rent (incl. secure)	1	1	0	0	0	0
Assured	222	184	239	208	176	192
Other	41	13	13	5	9	1
Assured shorthold	11	15	0	0	0	0
Licence agreement	1	8	25	3	0	0
Starter tenancy	0	0	2	14	12	23
Total	276	221	279	230	197	216
Source:
ODPM'S Housing Investment Programme returns and Housing Corporations CORE return

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in housing waiting lists in the South West Region in the last year; and how he intends to reduce the waiting lists. [185184]

Social housing waiting lists and the reasons for changes in them are a key part of the evidence considered by local housing authorities while carrying out assessments of local housing need. These assessments are used by the authorities in developing their housing strategies and should also influence local planning policies for the provision of affordable housing.The provision of new affordable housing is the number one priority of the South West Housing Body who will be investing £188 million in the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06 to deliver approximately 6,000 affordable homes within the South West.

Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" sets a national target that by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously-developed land and through conversions of existing, buildings. In the Spending Review statement published in the House on 12 July 2004, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the 60 per cent. target. The provisional estimate for 2003 is 66 per cent.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lettings have been made by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in Northampton in each of the last five years, broken down by category. [184843]

Information on the number of lettings to new tenants made by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the Northampton area, broken down by category excluding any transfers and mutual exchanges, is tabled as follows:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many key workers have received (a) equity loans, (b) higher value loans, (c) help with shared ownership and (d) help with intermediate renting in (i) each scheme zone and (ii) each English region from the Key Worker Living scheme, broken down by key worker group. [184141]

The following table sets out details of the equity loans paid under the Key Worker Living (KWL) scheme between it going live on 1 April and the end of June. No transactions involving higher value equity loans have been finalised at this stage. The shared ownership and intermediate renting schemes available through KWL are on newly built properties and will be coming on stream gradually during the life of the programme.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) budget, (b) funding from his Department and (c) funding from other Government Departments is for the Key Worker Living scheme in the current financial year. [184142]

£690 million (including Zone Agent administration costs) will be spent through Key Worker Living, of which around £25 million is being contributed by participating employers. Discussions are also ongoing with employers and other Government Departments about additional land contributions and access to accommodation on the NHS Estate.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on (i) administration and (ii) consultants' fees by each of the zone agents in the Key Worker Living scheme. [184143]

Four products are available under the Key Worker Living programme: market purchase 'Homebuy'; new build 'Homebuy'; new build shared ownership and, intermediate renting at subsidised levels. NHS owned units are also being made available more widely. The zone agents (ZAs) act as a one-stop shop by providing information for all such schemes as well as administering market purchase (MP) Homebuy. The ZA administration cost for each completed MP Homebuy case is expected to average £2,218.Although directly linked to market purchase Homebuy, the fee covers on-costs incurred by zone agents e.g. consultancy, to operate the full one stop shop service, including directing key workers to new build schemes and rental accommodation.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation there is between his Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on landfill in expansion areas. [184751]

There is close working across Government Departments on matters relating to the growth areas, including on the sustainable management of waste.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government will be taking to ensure the Review of Old Mineral Permissions is not used to co-locate landfill with development of 4,500 homes at the Wixams, formerly Elstow Garden Villages in Bedfordshire. [184750]

Mineral planning authorities are required, under provisions in the Environment Act 1995, to undertake initial and periodic reviews of old mineral planning permissions in order to secure improved environmental and operating standards at mineral sites.It is understood that Bedfordshire county council is currently considering an application for new planning conditions to apply to the restoration of former mineral workings at Elstow South. The hon. Member should make his views on the application known to the authority if he has not already done so.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place the unaudited data from the Best Value User Satisfaction Surveys 2003–04: General Survey Initial Topline Report for the 14 best value performance indicators for each of the 377 authorities available in the Library. [184975]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her previous question on 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 868W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the National Housing Federation's booklet The Evidence Update; and if he will take account of it in making future housing investment decisions about the South West region. [185183]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the work that the National Housing Federation (NHF) have done for their recent reports on housing needs in the, South East and South West. The general picture on housing pressures and the affordability of home ownership is in line with our analysis which under-pinned discussions of funding for affordable housing in the 2004 Spending Review. Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be meeting with the NHF shortly to discuss these reports.The NHF South West is represented on the South West Housing Body Steering Group and as such they will play a key role in the development of the region's new Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) due for publication in early 2005. The RHS will reflect all relevant evidence from a variety of sources and will form the basis for the Housing Body's recommendations to Ministers on the distribution of housing resources within the region.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will hold public meetings in Herefordshire to discuss proposals for a West Midlands Regional Assembly. [184018]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers soundings about the interest in holding a referendum on whether to establish an elected regional assembly showed that the level of interest in the West Midlands is low. We therefore have no proposals to hold a referendum in the West Midlands during this Parliament and see no merit in holding public meetings in Herefordshire.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) affordable homes and (b) homes for rent have been built in Portsmouth in each of the last five years. [184313]

Figures for affordable homes built and homes for rent built are not available centrally.

Number of local authority new lettings made by Portsmouth CC1
Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–042
New secure	1,131	1,159	988	947	853	—
Introductory	0	0	0	0	0	—
Other (e.g. licence)	0	0	0	0	0	—
Total	1,131	1,159	988	947	853	—
1These figures include any lettings made to the 5,300 dwellings that Portsmouth CC own in Havant.
2 Data not yet available for 2003–04

Number of RSL new lettings made in Portsmouth area
Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–411	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Fair rent (incl. secure)	5	0	0	0	0	0
Assured	264	251	240	251	213	136
Other	0	2	38	5	6	9
Assured shorthold	31	34	0	0	0	0
Licence agreement	0	0	0	0	0	0
Starter tenancy	0	0	2	3	8	16
Total	300	287	280	259	227	161
Source:
ODPM's Housing Investment Programme returns and Housing Corporations CORE return

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on local communities of the delays in announcing his preferred route for the upgraded A21 at Hurst Green. [184652]

[holding answer 16 July 2004]: No assessment has been made of the impact of delay in the announcement. I am aware of the local concern over the delays however, this section of the A21 is particularly sensitive and I have asked for further advice from the Highways Agency. When I have received their report I will make an announcement

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his preferred route for the A21 at Hurst Green. [184653]

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lettings have been made by (a) the local authority and (b) housing associations in Portsmouth in each of the last five years, broken down by category. [184314]

Information on the number of lettings to new tenants made by Portsmouth city council, and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the Portsmouth area; broken down by category excluding any transfers and mutual exchanges, is tabled as follows:

[holding answer 16 July 2004]: I have asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work on this scheme including a review of alignment, road standard and value for money. When I receive their report later this summer I will make an announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place for the resolution of disputes between police forces and airports designated under the Airport Security Act 1982 regarding the costs to be included within the re-charge arrangements. [184900]

Section 26(3) of the Aviation Security Act 1982 states that this is a matter for agreement between the manager of the designated airport and the police authority in question. Failing agreement, the Secretary of State for Transport will arbitrate. Following Sir John Wheeler's review of Aviation Security, this system is being reviewed with a view to making appropriate use of the Multi-Agency Threat and Risk Assessments (MATRAs) currently being undertaken at airports as a basis for agreement and, where necessary, arbitration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue guidance to airport operators regarding the airport master plan referred to in paragraph 8.38 of the White Paper, The Future of Air Transport. [183762]

Guidance on the Preparation of Airport Master Plans was published jointly by the Department for Transport, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland on 12 July. Copies have been placed in the House Library and can also be downloaded from the DfT website www.dit.gsi.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the health impact of the implementation of traffic congestion charges in cities where there is experience of their operation. [184388]

The Mayor of London introduced a scheme to reduce congestion in central London in February 2003. Early indications suggest that congestion charging has resulted in a significant reduction in road traffic in central London. The First Annual Monitoring Report by Transport for London (TfL) considered the direct effect of the congestion charge on air quality would be relatively modest. TfL's Second Annual Report estimated small decreases in both PM 10 particles and nitrogen oxides in the charging zone. It is too early, however, to assess fully the air quality changes and thus to calculate the implied impact on health. GLA/TfL estimated that congestion charging would result in between 150 and 250 fewer reported accidents, involving injury, per year within Greater London. TfL's Second Annual Report highlighted that the recent pattern of decreasing levels of accidents within the charging zone is continuing, and there is no evidence of detrimental change in road traffic accidents within or around the zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department (a) has put in place and (b) plans to put in place regarding the implementation of the Dangerous Goods Safety Advisors scheme throughout the transport industry. [184590]

The requirement for the appointment of Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers stemmed from EU Directives 96/35/EC (June 1996) and 2000/18/EC (April 2000). Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 257 implemented the requirement into national legislation—The Transport of Dangerous Goods (Safety Advisers) Regulations 1999 (as amended). The 1999 regulations were later subsumed into Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 586—The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004. This legislation implemented the requirements of the EU Framework Directives for Rail and Road, which required member states to align their national legislation with the international requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by rail and road. Similar legislation is in place in Northern Ireland.The EU requirement to appoint safety advisers applied only to the transport modes of road, rail and inland waterways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many diabetic retinopathy sufferers have had their driving licences revoked in each of the past three years; how many appealed against the decision; and how many had their licence subsequently returned. [184633]

Information on the total number of revocations over the last three years for drivers who have diabetic retinopathy is not available without incurring disproportionate costs. When a licence is revoked, the driver is always offered the opportunity to provide fresh evidence, which in such cases would normally be in the form of further visual field charts. If the new fields satisfy the standard, a licence will be reissued. No information is readily available on how many drivers have their licences returned on this basis.Since 2001, 18 drivers revoked because of diabetic retinopathy have formally appealed to a magistrates court in England and Wales or to a Sheriff Court in Scotland. Three went to a full hearing and of these two were dismissed and one was upheld and a new licence was issued. The other 15 appeals were withdrawn and eight have subsequently been issued with licences following the submission of fresh visual fields which met the required standard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on driving and visual disorders as they relate to people with diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [184635]

The visual standards and assessment procedures applied in relation to drivers with diabetes are those to which all drivers are subject, regardless of their medical condition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what exemptions or derogations are applicable to fishermen in respect of the Working Time Directive; whether they are (a) temporary and (b) permanent; and when those that are temporary will expire. [184717]

Under the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea Fishermen) Regulations 2004, which comes into force on 16 August, the Secretary of State may grant exceptions from the limit on the maximum weekly working time and the minimum periods of daily and weekly rest for objective or technical reasons or reasons concerning the organisation of work, provided he has consulted those concerned and the exception is subject to such conditions and limitations as will protect fishermen's health and safety. He may alter or cancel any exception on reasonable notice and after consultation with those affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Working Time Directive is in force in relation to its application to commercial sea fishing activity.[185196]

The Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea Fishermen) Regulations 2004 were laid in Parliament on 13 July 2004 and come into force on 16 August 2004. The Regulations implement the European Directives on working time in respect of workers engaged in sea fishing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles using the UK's roads were heavy goods vehicles in each of the last three years for which figures are available; how many road accidents involved

	Road accidents involving HGVs		People killed in road accidents involving HGVs		People injured in road accidents involving HGVs
	Number	Percentage of all road accidents	Number	Percentage of all road fatalities	Number	Percentage of all injured road casualties
2001	14,160	6	578	16	18,738	6
2002	12,894	6	532	15	17,058	5
2003	12,643	6	530	14	16,758	6

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensed heavy goods vehicles there were in the UK in each of the last 10 years. [184333]

The number of heavy goods vehicles licensed at the end of each of the last 10 years in the United Kingdom are as follows:

	Number of heavy goods vehicles
1994	430,500
1995	434,200
1996	438,000
1997	440,600
1998	439,500
1999	439,900
2000	443,300
2001	449,100
2002	453,000
2003	455,600

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the training being given to ship security officers will train them in all 25 of the topics given in Part B of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. [184598]

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency approve training providers against the training specification for ship security officers which covers 23 of the 25 topics identified in Part B of the ISPS Code. Those concerning the layout of the individual ship are covered by the ship security officers' professional knowledge, and those concerning crowd management and control techniques are covered by other professional qualifications HGVs in each year; how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in such accidents; and what percentage these figures represent of the total in each case. [184302]

The latest available figures are for 2001 to 2003 when the number of UK-registered heavy goods vehicles on the roads was:

	Number of heavy goods vehicles
2001	449,000
2002	453,000
2003	456,000

In addition, it is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 foreign-registered HGVs use roads in Great Britain.The information requested about road accidents involving HGVs in the UK, and casualties arising from these accidents is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crashes involving motorcycles and mopeds resulting in death or serious injury there have been in (a) the UK, (b) East Sussex and (c) Eastbourne in each of the last 10 years. [184304]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Fatal and Serious road accidents involving TWMVs1 by area: 1994 to 2003
	East Sussex	Eastbourne	UK
1994	82	4	7,029
1995	79	4	6,906
1996	95	5	6,434
1997	80	5	6,729
1998	91	9	6,721
1999	76	5	7,163
2000	77	3	7,711
2001	86	8	7,670
2002	98	7	7,835
2003	90	3	7,951
1 Two wheeled motor vehicles, mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he bill list the laws and regulations affecting pillion passengers of less than 16 years of age on motorcycles and mopeds. [184305]

The following legislation affects all pillion passengers irrespective of age:

• Only motorcyclists who have passed a motorcycle test can carry passengers. (Regulation 16 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999)
• The machine must be equipped with suitable supports or rests for the feet of the pillion passenger. (Regulation 102 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986)
• Pillion passengers must be capable of sitting astride a proper seat securely fixed to the motorcycle. This may require specific adaptations to accommodate young children. (Section 23(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988)
• A pillion passenger must wear a safety helmet. (Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1998)
• The decision to carry a passenger on a motorcycle remains with the rider, who is legally responsible for ensuring that the passenger is safely supported. (Section 23(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988)
• Any passenger must be carried in a manner so that no danger is caused, or likely to be caused, to any person on the vehicle or on the road. (Regulation 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986)
• It is an offence to use a vehicle when the number of passengers, or the manner in which they are carried, is such that it involves a danger of injury to any person. (Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pillion passengers on motorcycles and mopeds have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in each of the last 10 years in (i) the UK, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Eastbourne. [184306]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

	Severity	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
England	Fatal	437	433	486	539	501	532	598
	Serious	5,132	5,165	5,462	5,804	5,822	5,955	6,093
Somerset	Fatal	3	8	7	10	11	8	6
	Serious	61	47	43	59	44	56	57
Taunton Deane	Fatal	0	3	0	0	2	0	0
	Serious	14	10	8	8	5	16	12
West Somerset	Fatal	1	1	0	2	3	1	1
	Serious	3	1	4	1	7	6	5

To ask the Secretary of state for Transport which organizations provided (a) legal,(b) financial and (c) auditing services valued at over

Expenditure on legal services
						£(approved invoices paid)
Organisation	2000–011	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–052	Total
Allen and Overy	—	—	254,889.87	2,813,023.34	642,062.61	3,709,975.83
Bond Pearce	—	—	—	25,531.91	17,084.75	42,616.66
Brodies Solicitors	—	3,607.00	119,813.39	494,094.57	130,993.56	748,508.52
C. Hoare and Co.	—	—	400,000.00	—	—	400,000.00
Clifford Chance	—	5,947.58	227,937.19	689,106.64	201,937.34	1,124,928.75
CMS Cameron McKenna	—	—	—	16,117.60	21,612.55	37,730.15
Cobbetts	—	—	81,499.90	11,131.45	—	92,631.35
DLA	—	—	24,877.44	19,198.66	13,723.81	57,799.92
Evans Harding	—	—	—	764,578.16	—	764,578.16
Eversheds	308,160.40	1,133,044.33	2,135,651.04	3,344,576.60	349,041.47	7,270,473.85
Field Fisher Waterhouse	—	—	74,400.04	22,689.18	9,922.15	107,011.38
Freshfields	—	—	7,600.00	1,559,720.78	217,193.36	1,784,514.14

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds resulting in (a) death and (b) hospitalisation of (i) riders and (ii) pillion passengers there have been in (A) England, (B) Somerset, (C) Taunton Deane and (D) West Somerset in each of the last seven years. [184651]

The numbers of accidents involving a fatal of serious injury to a motorcycle/moped rider or passenger in the areas requested are given in the following table. "Serious" injuries are defined within the Departments road accident reporting system (STATS 19) as injuries for which a person is detained in hospital as an in-patient, plus injuries that may not lead to hospitalisation such as concussion, severe shock and severe cuts and lacerations.£25,000 to the Strategic Rail Authority in each year since 2001; and what the value of these services was in each case.

The information is shown in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities there were from road traffic accidents in each local authority area in England and Wales in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [184766]

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Approved invoices paid
£
Financial year	2000–011	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–052	Total
Technical and financial expenditure (non-call-offs)	352,553.87	4,608,001.72	9,744,734.23	3,906,538.03	830,827.42	19.442,655.28
Technical consultant expenditure (call-of)	686,740.01	6,871,213.80	11,362,342.95	12,435,146.62	2,353,573.99	33,709,017.37
Financial consultant expenditure (call-off)	438,648.52	6,249,336.35	10,549,487.46	10,401,760.77	1,125,727.85	28,764,960.95
Total	1,477,942.40	17,728,551.87	31,656,564.64	26,743,445.43	4,310,129.26	81,916,633.60
1Figures in this column show expenditure for the two months February 2001 (when the SRA was established) and March 2001.							2 Figures in this column show expenditure for the three months April to June 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by the Strategic Rail Authority in each year since 2001. [180893]

The information is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often the Director of Transec reports to him. [184601]

Frequently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to put in place measures to counter transport operator identity crime. [184606]

Security measures in place to manage the terrorist threat to the transport system vary according to the mode of transport and the threat. Where appropriate, such measures include the security screening of transport operators and the checking of their identity on entry to a restricted zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the report commissioned by his Department into uninsured driving. [184768]

[holding answer 16 July 2004]: We are carefully considering all the recommendations in the report by Professor Greenaway on uninsured driving, and will be publishing the report as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Iraqi security forces will be at full operational level. [184484]

The Iraqi Security Forces consist of the Iraqi Police Service, Iraqi Armed Forces, Iraqi National Guard, Iraqi Border Police, Facilities Protection Force, Iraqi Coastal Defence Force and Iraqi Riverine Patrol Service among others. Each of these is a separate organisation and has its own intensive programme of training and capability development. Some units of each are already operational locally. Further capability development will occur at different rates in each organisation. It is for the Iraqi Government to determine when the capability they seek is being delivered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the time scale for the Iraqi security forces to reach full operational capacity. [184488]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department is doing with the (a) Department for International Development and (b) non-governmental organisations to assist the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. [184490]

The Ministry of Defence's main contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq is to help provide the security that allows reconstruction projects to take place. We also work with the Department for International Development on numerous reconstruction projects in the South under the auspices of the Emergency Infrastructure Programme, with United Kingdom soldiers rebuilding and offering advice. We work with DFID to ensure that our Quick Impact Project money, which brings about short-term improvements in living conditions, is disbursed wisely.MOD coordinates closely with DFID on Iraq policy issues, including strategic communication, capacity building and use of funds from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. NGOs concerned with reconstruction normally engage with DfTD. Our close relationship with DfID ensures that our collective reconstruction effort can take account of concerns or proposals from NGOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are in Iraq; and what British equipment is deployed there. [184268]

As at the 13 July there are around 8,500 British troops deployed on Operation Telic in Iraq.There are currently around 2,800 Army vehicles and other pieces of equipment ranging from challenger tanks and helicopters through to fuel tankers and forklift handling equipment, generators and Land Rovers. The RAF has a mixture of Combat, Air Transport, Refuelling and Maritime Surveillance aircraft involved in operations in the Gulf and the Royal Navy has some warships and support vessels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the UK's defence budget has been devoted specifically to the armed forces in Iraq over the past 15 months. [184270]

The Ministry of Defence, in common with other Government Departments, publishes expenditure data on an annual basis in its Resource Accounts following audit by the National Audit Office. Details of costs of operations in Iraq for the Financial Year 2003–04 will be published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts following audit in September. Total costs are expected to be within the £1,539 million voted by Parliament which represents 3.6 per cent. of the total resource and capital expenditure limits voted to my Department in the Spring Supplementary Estimates.Audited figures for the cost of operations in Iraq in this financial year will be published in the MOD's Resource Accounts in 2005. It is too early to provide any estimate for the total costs that will be incurred this year, but we will ask the House to vote the necessary funds in Supplementary Estimates in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the incidents that have led to compensation being paid to Iraqi people in the sector occupied by British forces for (a) death, (b) injury and (c) destruction of property. [169408]

As at 16 July, the following incidents have led to compensation being paid to Iraqi people in the sector occupied by British Forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which private companies' services have been employed by his Department in Iraq; and how much has been paid to each. [175095]

We employ contractors to undertake a wide variety of tasks such as support of equipment, construction and removal of camps, catering and translation. They are contracted by a number of separate military commands including in theatre.A record of which private companies' services have been employed is not held centrally and could only be established at disproportionate cost; details of the respective contracts are commercial in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he takes of the recruitment attainment by regiments when considering the future configuration of the Army. [184485]