To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the date of completion of the A3 safety measures at Thursley. [188241]

The A3 Junction Improvement is expected to be completed and open to traffic at the end of December 2004, six months ahead of the original target date of June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the Inspector's report following the public inquiry on the A3 Hindhead tunnel proposal. [188242]

It is too soon to say when the Inspector's report might be received, as this is dependent on when the inquiry actually finishes and the complexity of the evidence the Inspector needs to consider before concluding his report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ambulances have been involved in road traffic accidents in the last two years in England; and if he will make a statement. [188375]

The number of ambulances involved in road traffic accidents in England in the last two years available is shown below. Information for 2003 is not yet available.

Number of ambulances1 involved in road accidents: England: 2001–2002
Year	Number Vehicles
2001	307
2002	295
1Vehicles with body type "ambulance". Body type is only known for 70–80 per cent. of the vehicle records in the Road Accidents Database.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the advice offered to rail companies on the facility for cyclists to take their bicycles on the train. [188417]

The franchise agreements by which passenger rail services are procured require franchised train operators to:

"so far as reasonably practicable and subject to the availability of appropriate space on its rolling stock, ensure that facilities for the transport of bicycles on trains are made available, at reasonable charges (if any), to passengers using or intending to use the Passenger Service."

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train companies place restrictions on cyclists taking bicycles on trains. [188418]

Of the 25 franchised train operators, three carry bicycles on all services without requiring prior reservation, six carry bicycles on all their services but do require prior reservation, one does not require prior reservation but restricts bicycles to off-peak times only and the remaining 15 require both prior reservation and restrict bicycles to off-peak times only. All franchised train operators have a maximum number of cycles which can be carried on any particular train.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent research he has conducted on the number of passengers on the c2c LTS route who do not get a seat; and if he will make a statement; [188435](2) what representations he has had on the recent Rail Passenger's Committee Eastern England research findings on the number of passengers who do not get a seat on the c2c LTS route. [188437]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) collects annual Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PiXC) census data every autumn for all London Commuter Train Operating Companies. Last year's figures for c2c indicate an overall PiXC figure of 1 per cent. (morning plus evening combined) against the threshold of 4.5 per cent.. This was the lowest of the 10 London Commuter TOCs, for which the total was 2.7 per cent.I have received no representations on the Rail Passenger's Committee Eastern England research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that a refund is given to passengers with season tickets when standing reaches a predetermined level; and if he will make a statement. [188436]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is reviewing its crowding policy. The SRA plans to consider whether there is a case for Train Operating Companies to face additional incentives to manage overcrowding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with c2c on the redeployment of four 4-Coach Class 357 trains; and if he will make a statement. [188438]

None. The redeployment of rolling stock was agreed by the Strategic Rail Authority to cover a potential shortfall in rolling stock which was identified elsewhere on the network as a result of the West Coast Route Modernisation programme. The redeployment is not permanent and it is envisaged that the rolling stock will return to c2c once new trains have entered service on the West Coast Main Line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on maximum noise levels from straight-through car exhausts on customised cars. [187389]

Only new cars are subject to maximum noise limits. However, Regulation 54 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 does set minimum requirements for the maintenance of exhaust systems and silencers for cars, and other vehicles, in use. This requires that they be fitted with a silencer, that the silencer is maintained in good and efficient working order and has not been altered so as to increase noise. The Regulations also make it an offence to use a car in such a manner as to cause excessive noise that could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver. It is likely that a straight-through exhaust, whether used on a customised car or any other vehicle, would be in breach of this requirement. Enforcement, however, is a matter for the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on consultation by the Crossrail development programme to date. [186733]

Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL), a joint venture company currently owned by Transport for London and the Strategic Rail Authority, was set up to develop and promote the Crossrail project.Total expenditure to date on consultation by CLRL is £3,466,500. £2,170,500 was spent on the first round of consultation (September 2003 to January 2004) that I asked CLRL to undertake to explain to the public in more detail their proposed scheme, and to canvass views on their route proposals. The remaining £1,296,000 is the cost to date of the second round of consultation, on CLRL's preferred route, which began in August 2004, following my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's Statement to the House on 20 July announcing the decision to introduce a hybrid Bill for Crossrail at the earliest opportunity. The costs include salary costs of CLRL staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been allocated in his departmental budget for the Crossrail project for (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07. [188083]

In May 2001, Cross London Rail Links (CLRL) was provided with ring-fenced funding of £154 million for the purposes of developing Crossrail. CLRL has spent £62.5 million to the end of financial year 2003–04, with a further £42.5 million budgeted for the current year. This would leave £49 million of the original £154 million available for developing the scheme after March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers (a) he has and (b) are vested in local authorities to prevent motorised vehicles from blocking cycleways including those on the highway; and what plans he has to ensure that cycleways are not blocked by motorised vehicles. [188379]

Parking enforcement is a matter for the police or, where local authorities have acquired decriminalised parking enforcement powers, those authorities.It is an offence under section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to park a motor vehicle wholly or partly on a track provided for use by pedal cyclists. Parking in a cycle lane marked on a carriageway for the use of cyclists may be prohibited by means of a traffic regulation order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The restriction would be indicated by yellow lines and may operate 24 hours a day or for a more limited period. It is an offence under sections 5 or 8 of the 1984 Act to contravene such an order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision of cycleways was part of the safer city project in Gloucester [188380]

Gloucester Safer City Project addressed safety issues on the roads in Gloucester and implemented measures to improve safety for cyclists along approximately 15 km of the carriageway. Off road cycleways were not part of the project. However, cycle lanes were provide in Elmbridge Road, Finlay Road, Cheltenham Road, Stroud Road and Bristol Road. In addition, on the Stroud Road the cycle lane was taken on to the footway for part of its route and in Metz Way the off-road cycle route was improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) research he has commissioned and (b) steps he has initiated to facilitate the incorporation of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System. [188754]

The information requested is as follows:

(a) There is a growing body of research on emissions trading, some of it funded or part funded by the Department for Transport. Recent examples include projects by (i) ICF Consulting for the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (ii) OXERA for BAA plc and (iii) The Institute of Applied Ecology for the German Environment Agency. The European Commission is also in the process of letting a major research contract to consider the incorporation of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

(b) The Department is having discussions with stakeholders and other EU States to gather support for the UK's initiative and seek views on potential answers to some of the difficult design issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the accident rate per number of vehicles on the M40 between junctions 3 and 6 in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average accident rate for motorways was in the same period. [188051]

The Highways Agency publishes accident rates per million vehicle kilometres travelled. On this basis, the accident rates in 2003 for the section of the M40 between junctions 3 and 6 are as follows:

Junctions	Accident rate
3 to 4	0.187
4 to 5	0.033
5 to 6	0.087

The national accident rate for a three-lane motorway is 0.089.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities there were of (a) motor cycle riders and (b) pillion passengers in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by police authority area. [188396]

Numbers of fatalities of two wheeled motor vehicle riders and pillion passengers by police authority area for 1999 to 2003 are given in the following table.

TWMV riders and passenger fatalities by police authority area: GB 1999–2003
Fatalities Polite force	Casualty type	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Metropolitan police	Riders	54	53	70	62	61
	Passengers	1	3	0	4	2
Cumbria	Riders	5	9	7	8	7
	Passengers	0	0	1	0	0
Lancashire	Riders	15	15	8	13	18
	Passengers	0	0	0	1	0
Merseyside	Riders	4	14	7	12	6
	Passengers	0	2	1	3	0
Greater Manchester	Riders	10	9	6	8	15
	Passengers	0	2	0	0	0
Cheshire	Riders	14	13	14	11	17
	Passengers	2	1	1	1	0
Northumbria	Riders	6	7	8	10	11
	Passengers	0	0	2	0	1
Durham	Riders	2	4	4	4	8
	Passengers	0	0	0	1	1
North Yorkshire	Riders	12	17	12	22	26
	Passengers	0	0	1	1	2
West Yorkshire	Riders	15	19	18	14	17
	Passengers	1	0	1	1	2
South Yorkshire	Riders	7	15	7	12	10
	Passengers	0	1	0	0	2
Humberside	Riders	13	6	7	5	7
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	3
Cleveland	Riders	2	4	1	1	2
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	I
West Midlands	Riders	16	8	9	11	21
	Passengers	0	1	0	0	1
Staffordshire	Riders	7	12	7	13	15
	Passengers	0	0	0	1	1
West Mercia	Riders	22	22	16	6	15
	Passengers	0	1	1	1	0
Warwickshire	Riders	6	10	5	6	11
	Passengers	1	1	0	0	1
Derbyshire	Riders	15	15	11	15	16
	Passengers	1	0	1	2	0
Nottinghamshire	Riders	12	8	22	13	14
	Passengers	0	1	3	0	0
Lincolnshire	Riders	17	12	13	11	14
	Passengers	0	2	0	1	0
Leicestershire	Riders	17	7	12	16	9
	Passengers	2	1	3	0	1
Northamptonshire	Riders	12	9	7	7	13
	Passengers	2	1	0	0	0
Cambridgeshire	Riders	5	11	7	8	9
	Passengers	1	0	0	0	0
Norfolk	Riders	10	17	9	10	14
	Passengers	0	3	0	1	0
Suffolk	Riders	9	7	5	5	10
	Passengers	0	0	1	0	0
Bedfordshire	Riders	5	7	10	7	4
	Passengers	1	0	0	0	0
Hertfordshire	Riders	7	8	10	10	10
	Passengers	1	0	0	0	0
Essex	Riders	16	16	30	20	24
	Passengers	0	1	0	0	1
Thames Valley	Riders	23	28	25	33	36
	Passengers	2	0	2	0	0
Hampshire	Riders	17	17	13	19	30
	Passengers	1	2	1	2	1
Surrey	Riders	16	12	11	16	11
	Passengers	1	0	1	1	0
Kent	Riders	19	26	12	24	19
	Passengers	0	1	2	3	0
Sussex	Riders	9	12	17	21	18
	Passengers	1	3	0	1	3
City of London	Riders	1	1	2	1	0
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	0
Devon and	Riders	14	20	15	21	17
Cornwall	Passengers	0	0	0	1	1
Avon and Somerset	Riders	13	13	19	15	11
	Passengers	0	0	0	1	0
Gloucestershire	Riders	4	7	6	7	8
	Passengers	0	1	0	0	1
Wiltshire	Riders	9	9	7	6	9
	Passengers	0	0	2	0	0
Dorset	Riders	9	10	4	6	13
	Passengers	0	0	1	0	0
North Wales	Riders	10	9	10	7	17
	Passengers	1	2	0	0	1
Gwent	Riders	2	4	4	1	1
	Passengers	1	0	0	0	0
South Wales	Riders	10	7	4	9	6
	Passengers	1	0	2	1	0
Dyfed-Powys	Riders	5	6	15	8	17
	Passengers	0	0	1	1	0
Northern	Riders	1	11	6	2	9
	Passengers	1	0	0	0	0
Grampian	Riders	6	6	13	11	6
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	0
Tayside	Riders	2	2	3	4	3
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	1
Fife	Riders	1	2	3	5	5
	Passengers	0	1	0	0	0
Lothian and	Riders	4	5	4	6	8
Borders	Passengers	0	1	0	0	0
Central	Riders	2	2	1	6	3
	Passengers	0	0	0	0	0
Strathclyde	Riders	12	10	15	10	12
	Passengers	0	0	1	0	1
Dumfries and	Riders	1	0	3	2	2
Galloway	Passengers	0	0	0	0	0
Great Britain	Riders	525	573	554	580	665
	Passengers	22	32	29	29	28

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the main motor cyclist associations on accident prevention. [188397]

The Advisory Group on Motorcycling, which I Chaired, discussed motorcycling safety in considerable depth, among other issues. The Group included the British Motorcyclists Federation, the Motorcycle Action Group, the Motorcycle Industry Association, the Motorcycle Retailers Association, the Motorcycle Rider Training Association and the Despatch Association.The "Advisory Group on Motorcycling: Final Report to Government" was published in August and is available in the House Library. It makes 16 suggestions and 38 recommendations to Government. A number of these concern improving safety and helping to prevent accidents. We are considering them carefully in the context of preparing a national strategy for motorcycling, which we hope to have developed before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with interested parties on banning the carriage of child pillion passengers on motorcycles. [188398]

I have had no such discussions. Regulations are already in place to ensure that passengers of any age or size can be carried safely, when they are complied with. These include a requirement for passengers to wear a securely fastened safety helmet and to sit astride a properly fixed seat, with their feet reaching suitable supports or rests. Only motorcyclists who have passed a motorcycle test may carry passengers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the final report of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling; and if he will make a statement in response to its recommendations. [188448]

The Government welcomes this Report. It concludes the work of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling set up by my Department, which was established to consider the role of motorcycling within an integrated transport policy, including important issues such as safety and environmental impact.The Report contains 38 recommendations and 16 suggestions covering a range of issues. These are designed to make motorcycling safer and to improve the motorcycling experience. The Government are considering them carefully in the context of preparing a national strategy for motorcycling, which we hope to have developed before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has carried out an investigation into the number of quad bike accidents reported affecting British residents while on holiday abroad; and if he will list the resorts which have had the worst accident record in 2004. [188399]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) dogs, (b) cats, (c) badgers, (d) deer, (e) foxes, (f) hedgehogs, (g) rabbits and (h) squirrels killed as a result of road traffic accidents in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of each were recorded. [188381]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries on roads were attributable to speed in the last year for which figures are available. [186763]

Routine statistics do not record the primary cause of a r oad accident. However, under a pilot scheme, 15 police forces in Great Britain have provided information on contributory factors to accidents since 1999. In 2003 this information was available for about a third of all reported injury accidents in Great Britain. Among these, 30 per cent. of fatalities and 20 per cent. of serious casualties were in accidents where 'excessive speed' was a factor.If the results from the pilot scheme were representative of the whole country, it would mean that over 1,000 deaths and about 6,600 serious injuries in Great Britain in 2003 were sustained in accidents where `excessive speed' was a contributory factor.The contributory factor data are based on the opinions of police officers. In the case of accidents reported by a member of the public at a police station, these factors have to be determined from their description of the accident.The true extent of the influence of speed as a contributory factor in road traffic accidents may be greater than suggested by the single factor 'excessive speed', as some other factors—such as 'following too close'—may also be associated with inappropriate speed. My Department is undertaking further analysis of the pilot contributory factor data and will publish an article later in the year.Starting in January 2005 this pilot scheme will be replaced by a new set of questions on contributory factors, which will henceforward form an integral part of the road accident reporting system and will be collected by all police forces for accidents reported at scene by a police officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his review of speed limits will be published; when he commissioned his review of speed limits; and how long he originally expected that his review of speed limits would take. [188459]

The Road Safety Strategy, published in March 2000 gave a commitment to revise and update our guidance to local authorities on the setting of local speed limits, currently in the form of Circular Roads 1/93. We will shortly issue a consultation draft of a revised Circular for comment, and we expect to finalise and publish the Circular early in 2005. In January this year we published a Ti affic Advisory Leaflet on village speed limits, recommending that the speed limit should usually be 30 miles per hour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of accidents which were due to motorists failing to comply with recommended stopping distances in each of the last five years. [188559]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) cost or recruitment was and (b) total cumulative salary bill has been for (i) the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency and (ii) the Chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport and (iii) the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority.

The total cost of recruitment including advertising costs for the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency in 2003 was £53,977. Details of the remuneration paid to the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency can be found n the Agency's Annual Reports.For the Chairman of the UK Commission for Integrated Transport, the recruitment costs specifically attributable to this post are not held separately. The most recent Chair appointment was in March 2002. The remuneration for the post is £30,000 pa with the Chair expected to work five days per month.Full details of the payments made to the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority can be found in the Authority's Annual Reports. The recruitment costs specifically attributable to this post are not held separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Government have made to United States authorities regarding the decision to abolish the crew list visa scheme. [188432]

The Government made representations to the US authorities on two occasions, in co-operation with a number of other governments, in response to the proposals to abolish the crew list visa scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate the Government have made of the number of children living in poverty who lived outside the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in each year since 1997. [187369]

The Government's figures for children in low income households are available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03". This information is not available below regional level. The report is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government (a) expect to meet and (b) have met their target for reducing the number of children living in poverty in the first quarter of 2004; and if he will make a statement. [186805]

The Government have a PSA target to reduce the number of children in low-income households by at least a quarter by 2004, as a contribution towards the broader target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020.Between the baseline year of 1998–99 and 2002–03, the number of children in low income households has fallen by 500,000 before housing costs and 600,000 after housing costs. We will report on the target in spring 2006 when the data for 2004–05 become available.The latest available data (2002–03) do not reflect the introduction of new tax credits in April 2003 or the increase in the child element of the child tax credit in April 2004. We are broadly on course to meet the PSA target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average weekly pension in Great Yarmouth in each year since 1997 if pensions had been linked to earnings. [186701]

The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is in the table.

£
As at April each year	Average State Pension in Great Yarmouth	Average State Pension in Great Yarmouth with basic State Pension uprated by earnings
1999	68.90	70.55
2000	69.95	73.65
2001	75.60	77.35
2002	78.65	81.15
2003	81.30	84.70
Notes:
1. The change in the overall rate of basic State Pension for any given year is estimated by comparing the actual maximum rate of basic State Pension for that year with the rate if earnings uprating had been in place. The average recorded basic State Pension in Great Yarmouth for each individual year is then increased proportionately to reflect the difference.
2. It is assumed that basic State Pension was uprated by earnings from 1998 onwards. It is assumed that additional State Pension would still be uprated in line with prices. The average additional State Pension in Great Yarmouth each year is then added to the adjusted average basic amount to provide the total average State Pension.
3. Figures for actual State Pension amounts are taken from 5 per cent. sample of September's DWP administrative data for the year shown and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
4. Figures for individual parliamentary constituencies are not available prior to 1999.
5. The figures shown in the table are weekly amounts rounded to the nearest 5p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the additional costs in (a) 2015, (b) 2025, (c) 2035 and (d) 2045 of having a state second pension accrual rate that would guarantee all workers with 40 years of full-time employment sufficient pension to make them ineligible at (i) age 75 and (ii) retirement for the guarantee part of the pension credit if the basic state pension were to be uprated in line with (A) prices, (B) earnings and (C) the average of earnings and prices [186851]

It is estimated that for a single person retiring in 2045, in order for the combined value of basic State Pension (BSP) and State Second Pension (S2P) to exceed the level of the Guarantee Credit, the additional spending on state pension required is as follows.

(A) Under price uprating of the basic State Pension
£ billion
		2015	2025	2035	2045
(i) At age 75	S2P	0.8	3.5	9.2	19.6
(ii) At retirement	S2P	0.3	1.5	3.9	8.2
	BSP	—	—	—	—

(B) Under earnings uprating of the basic State Pension
£ billion
		2015	2025	2035	2045
() At age 75	S2P
(ii) At retirement	S2P
	BSP	9.6	23.7	45.8	69.3
Note:
No change to S2P accrual or spending would be required under part B.

(C) Under average of earnings and price uprating of the basic State Pension
£ billion
		2015	2025	2035	2045
(i) At age 75	S2P	0.4	1.5	3.9	8.3
(ii) At retirement	S2P	—	—	—	—
	BSP	4.1	9.3	17.1	24.4
Notes:
1. No change to S2P accrual or spending would be required under part C ii.
2. Figures are costs for GB and Overseas in 2004–05 price terms, using the GDP deflator index, rounded to the nearest £100 million.
3. Costs are for additional spending on Basic and State Second Pension and do not include any increased income tax revenue or savings in income related benefits. Costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002 based population projections. Accrual rates were calculated by the Department.
4. Except where stated, current policy on calculation and uprating of benefits is assumed to continue and long-term assumptions are in line with those for budget 2004. The guarantee credit is therefore increased in line with average earnings.
5. Increasing basic State Pension by more than prices as in parts B and C of this question will result in additional spending on basic State Pension.
6. Costs also exclude any changes that might occur to contracting out rebates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the assumptions are for the number and percentage of eligible pensioners taking tip pension credit that underlie his pensioner benefit expenditure projections for (a) 2003–04, (b) 2013–14, (c) 2023–24, (d) 2033–34, (e) 2043–44 and (f) 2053–54. [187352]

The Government do not currently produce long-term projections of the pension credit caseload. In the interests of fiscal propriety they do issue long-term expenditure projections. Tabled are the caseloads underlying the projected expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned regarding the number of times reported criminal activity relating to antisocial behaviour has resulted in suspects being (a) charged and (b) convicted. [186820]

The Home Office has commissioned a survey of young people which will give a measure of the percentage of antisocial young people who have had contact with the criminal justice system and the Youth Justice Board are commissioning research to look at the use of antisocial behaviour orders. Results are not yet available from either of these studies.

To ask Ill; Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received regarding estimated asylum applications from (a) Darfur, (b) South Sudan and (e) other parts of Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [186723]

Applications for asylum in the UK are collated and published by nationality, and are made in the UK rather than from abroad. The available data do not include breakdowns by region within countries of origin, which would not necessarily be reliable even if it were possible to record such information. The latest published figures show a 13 per cent. rise in asylum applications from 265 in Ql 2004 to 300 in Q2 2004 from Sudanese nationals compared with an 11 per cent. fall for total applications (all nationalities) over the same period.Information on asylum applications is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom". Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and 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 how many failed asylum seekers have been removed from the United Kingdom in each year since 1997. [186553]

The available information is in the table.

Removals and voluntary1 departures of asylum applicants, 1997 to 20032,3
	Principal applicants	Dependants	Total
1997	7,165	n/a	n/a
1998	6,990	n/a	n/a
1999	7,665	n/a	n/a
2000	8,980	n/a	n/a
2001	9,285	41,495	10,780
2002	10,740	3,170	13,910
20035	13,005	4,890	17,895
n/a=not available
1Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
2 Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to total due to rounding.
3 Data on dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.
4 Excludes January-March 2001.
5 Provisional figures

Information on asylum seekers who were removed from the UK in the first half of 2004 can be found on 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 how many National Asylum Support Service-supported cases in the City of Newcastle have ended with the withdrawal of benefits on grounds of refusal of the case; and how many (a) women and (b) children have been affected by such withdrawals. [186844]

A total of 45,120 cases had support ceased in 2003 compared with 45.185 in 2002 and 14,195 in 2001. A breakdown of this information by reason for cessation, by area of the UK, by age or by gender is unavailable and could be produced only at a disproportionate cost. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) only supports children if they are dependants of a principal applicant; NASS does not support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs).Failed asylum seekers with dependent children currently receive NASS support until such time as they leave the UK or fail to comply with a removal direction. When section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 is implemented NASS support will cease if the Secretary of State certifies that, in his opinion, such a person has failed without reasonable excuse to take reasonable steps to leave the UK voluntarily or place himself in a position in which he is able to leave the UK voluntarily.As at the end of June 2004 the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in Newcastle in NASS accommodation was 1,575 and 50 were in receipt of subsistence-only support. Figures are rounded to the nearest five and cases which have had their support terminated are excluded from this figure.Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly, and information on the number of cases with support ceased is published annually in the annual Home Office Statistical bulletin, Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available on 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 make it his policy to issue a definition of public benefit in relation to the activities of charities; and if he will make a statement. [187493]

The draft Charities Bill was published on 27 May 2004. It takes forward a number of the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, which made its report 'Private Action; Public Benefit' in September 2002. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.At the heart of the draft Charities Bill is a new statutory definition of charity, based on a list of charitable purposes, and the principle of charities providing public benefit. This will make clear exactly what a charity is.The Strategy Unit thoroughly reviewed the pros and cons of putting a definition of public benefit onto the face of the Bill. It concluded, and the Government agrees, that the future development of charity will be better served by keeping the current, flexible, non-statutory definition of public benefit.The draft Bill is the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses, which is expected to publish its recommendations by 30 September 2004. The Government will publish their response to the Committee's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trafficking of children within the UK; and what steps he is taking to counter this. [185120]

The Government are strongly committed to combating child trafficking. We recognise that it is a complex problem and are determined to address every aspect of it, whether in countries of origin, en route to the UK, or on arrival. We have put in place a number of measures to do so, and constantly keep them under review.We are working with source countries to tackle the problem at its root. The UK is one of the strongest supporters of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. We have given £70,000 to Anti-Slavery International for raising awareness of the abuses suffered by the victims of trafficking and remedial action in West Africa. We have also given £3 million for the International Labour Organisation's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) programme in the Greater Mekong region. This involves a number of inter-linked interventions to raise awareness and prevent trafficking, and to withdraw women and children from labour exploitation and reintegrate them back into their own or new communities.We are also taking action to ensure an effective enforcement response. Since 2000, all operational activity targeted against organised immigration crime, including people trafficking, has been co-ordinated through the multi-agency task force Reflex. Led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), Reflex brings together all the key agencies (including the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and key police forces), as well as the appropriate Government Departments. Reflex aims to build up the intelligence picture, co-ordinate operations and provide a focal point for the operational response to human trafficking and smuggling.The Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force in May this year, sets out wide-ranging offences covering trafficking for sexual exploitation with a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. A new offence covering trafficking for non-sexual purposes, such as forced labour, is included in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004.The Government are committed to providing appropriate support to victims of trafficking. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services. Under the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those needs or arranging for their provision by other agencies. Assistance and support should therefore be provided by local statutory services in response to identified needs, whether directly or though specialist agencies.We are also working to raise awareness of child trafficking among key professionals and agencies. The Immigration Service has started specialist child interviewing training for around 600 operational members of staff nationwide, which will help identify child victims of trafficking as they arrive in the UK. The Government have also published a best practice toolkit as a guide for professionals who are likely to come into contact with victims of trafficking. This includes specific sections on children and young people.The Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills are jointly considering the results from the Reflex funded multi-agency operation, Paladin Child. This involved the Metropolitan Police, the Immigration Service, social worker:. from Hillingdon Social Services and secondees from NSPCC. The operation risk assessed children arriving at Heathrow airport without their parents or legal guardians and social services followed up those considered to be at risk. The operation did not uncover any evidence of child trafficking. However, the report did make a number of recommendations related to child protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a re ply to his letter of 10 August on behalf of a constituent, reference P09259/4. [188009]

I replied to my hon. Friend on 8 September 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with whom consultation has been held on (a) the range of data items which are to be stored in the database of registered facts and (b) the potential for subsequent use and disclosure of personal data from the database of registered facts; and if he will make a statement. [185960]

The Government published a draft Identity Cards Bill oil 26 April 2004 setting out the legislative framework for a national identity cards scheme. A 12-week consultation was held in accordance with the Cabinet Office's Code of Practice on Consultation.Over 3,000 copies of the consultation paper have been distributed including to all Members of Parliament, all the representative organisations that had commented on the earlier consultation and acquisition libraries across the UK. The consultation also appeared on the identity cards website (www.identitycards.gov.uk) and invited comments from individuals and organisations.We are now carefully analysing all the responses received. The Government will take account of these comments on the draft Bill before it introduces substantive legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.The House of Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs is undertaking a formal scrutiny of the draft Bill and will be publishing a report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects inquiries into medical and nursing practices at Gosport War Memorial Hospital to be concluded; [186616]

I can confirm that the investigation by Hampshire Police is ongoing. To date over 90 cases have been examined by a panel of experts and some of these have in turn been identified as requiring more detailed scrutiny. The investigation of the first four of these cases should be concluded by September 2004, but it is likely that the inquiry will stretch into 2005. Every effort has been made to ensure that the families and other interested parties are aware of the timescales involved.Information is not available centrally on the amount of time which hospital staff haw used in responding to police inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further proposals the Government have to extend the powers of the criminal justice system to prevent hate crimes. [186872]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in his speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research Institute on 7 July that as soon as the legislative opportunity arose the Government proposed extending the existing incitement to racial hatred laws, contained in the Public Order Act 1986, by creating a new offence of incitement to religious hatred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the technological potential to combine identity cards with passports containing electronic data. [187388]

As part of the work to set the requirements for identity cards, the level of compatibility with technical standards proposed for electronic passports is being examined. However, no decision has been made on whether to combine technical standards for identity cards with any other documents.The UK Passport Service is already committed to introducing a biometric passport containing electronic data in 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to monitor the level of illegal immigration into the United Kingdom. [186554]

By definition, illegal immigrants fall outside of official statistics and are therefore difficult to measure. Official estimates of the numbers of illegal entrants to the UK or estimates of the size of the illegally resident population in the UK do not exist. The Government have commissioned research into the methods used in other countries to estimate the size of the illegal population in order to define methods appropriate for the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the joint work of immigration officers and British Transport Police in London in identifying illegal immigrants; and how many individuals have been (a) questioned and (b) arrested as part of the operation. [187059]

Over the past 15 months the UK Immigration Service (UKIS) has participated in a variety of joint multi-agency street crime operations in London, initiated by both the Metropolitan and British Transport Police (BTP). Focusing on crime hotspots, the Immigration Service has been invited to attend where an immigration offence is expected. The deployment of immigration officers in public places is a legitimate activity within the spectrum of our mandate of enforcing immigration laws.While immigration officers do not have the same powers as the police to stop and search individuals in public places, they may legitimately question people to determine their immigration status where there is reasonable suspicion that a person is an immigration offender.Records of

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the immigration figures for each of the past 14 months. [184255]

Latest available figures on international migration are given in the table.

Total international migration1: United Kingdom, 2001 to 2002 Thousand
Year and quarter2	Inflow	All migration Outflow	Balance
2001	480	308	172
Of which
March	100	60	40
June	113	65	48
September	178	103	75
December	89	81	8
2002	513	359	153
Of which:
March	105	75	30
June	117	81	36
September	197	124	73
December	95	80	14
1Figures are estimates derived from the International Passenger Survey and other sources?these are Home Office data on asylum seekers and their dependants and estimates of migration between the UK and the Irish Republic from the Irish Central Statistical Office.
2 Quarters are labelled by their final month, e.g. March denotes the quarter January to March.
Source:
National Statistics (www.statistics.gov.uk).

Monthly data is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government plans to conduct of the new Italian identity card scheme. [183909]

Identity card schemes have existed in most EU countries for many years.Home Office officials have had detailed discussions with colleagues involved in the operation of identity card schemes in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany and lessons learned have informed the development of policy where appropriate.Comprehensive information has been supplied by each of the EU member states on the operation of their card schemes. The results of this work comprise Annex 3 of "Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation" (CM 5557) published in July 2002.Home Office officials have met Italian counterparts on two occasions to discuss their experience on the design and implementation of identity cards schemes and we will continue to work closely with colleagues in EU member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make it easier for non-EU students to work in the UK after they have graduated provided they have graduated from a UK university, with particular reference to residency criteria. [186817]

The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS), to be introduced on 29 October 2004, will allow non-EU graduates from UK universities who have graduated in specific science and engineering courses to apply to remain in the UK to seek work.Participants on SEGS will be required to show that they have achieved a degree at 2:2 or above in such courses and that they can maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds. Participants will be granted leave for one year and will be able to live and work in any region of the UK. Participants on the scheme will be allowed to switch, at any time during the year, to other managed migration categories provided they meet the criteria.In summer 2005, a further pilot scheme (Fresh Talent: Scotland) should be introduced to allow third country national graduates from Scottish universities to apply to stay in Scotland and look for work for up to two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the activities of the November 9th Society. [186293]

The Government condemn any individual or group which promotes racism. The Home Office is currently developing a cross-Government community cohesion and race equality strategy, due to be launched later this year, which will among other matters address how we can most effectively respond to the threat from political extremism. It is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute any alleged offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to close the website of the November 9th Society; and if he will make a statement. [186294]

The Government condemn those who use the internet to distribute racist material of this kind. The law on incitement to racial hatred applies to material on the internet which comes within our jurisdiction. It is for the police to investigate complaints and decide whether there is evidence that website operators have committed offencesThe Internet Watch Foundation serves as a central point of contact for those who wish to report examples of inflammatory material on the internet.The Government are currently working on an e-crime strategy which will include consideration of racist material on the internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is to overseas students from (a) new entrant countries in the EU and (b) non-EU countries of registering to work in the UK during their studies. [183795]

Students from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia who take up employment in the UK and who are subject to the Worker Registration Scheme are required to pay a one-off fee of £50 to register with the Home Office. After 12 months in continuous legal employment in the UK they can work here without registration.Students from non-EU countries can legally work part-time alongside their studies, without reporting the details to the Home Office, provided they continue to satisfy the requirements of their stay as students.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when biometric passports will be available to British passport holders to allow entry into the US under the visa waiver scheme; and if he will make a statement. [186367]

US Congress have recently approved legislation which extends the target date by which participating members of the US visa waiver scheme should be producing biometric passports to October 2005. British citizens will be able to travel to the States under current arrangements until that date provided they hold machine readable passports.It is planned to commence the introduction of biometric enabled British Passports in late 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he has not acted upon the recommendation by the Chief Surveillance Commissioner that certain NHS bodies should be excluded from Schedule 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [185958]

The conduct of directed surveillance by NHS bodies has been reviewed by the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), the Special Health Authority responsible for operational matters relating to the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and corruption and the management of security in the NHS. The review has concluded that the CFSMS should authorise and undertake directed surveillance on behalf of NHS bodies. Consequently the Government will be laying an Order to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, in line with the recommendation of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motories were (a) fined and (b) banned from driving as a result of the evidence of speed cameras in each of the last five years; how much money was raised from fines in each year; and if he will make a statement. [187001]

Available information for England and Wales on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid and on the number of persons disqualified from driving for the offence of 'speeding detected by camera' in 1998 to 2002 is shown in tables A and B respectively. Data for 2003 will not be available until the autumn.Information on the revenue raised from speeding fines is not available centrally.

Table A: Fines and, fixed penalty data for speeding offences detected by camera1,2, England and Wales, 1998–2002
	Court proceedings3			Fixed penalties
	Number of fines	Total amount of fine (£)	Average fine (£)	Number of tickets4	Estimated revenue (£)5
1998	25,500	2,928,000	115	338,800	13,552,000
1999	32,300	3,434,000	106	423,000	16,920,000
2000	31,800	3,400,000	107	599,200	25,965,000
2001	40,500	4.510.000	111	877,500	52,650,000
2002	46,300	4.778,000	103	1.135,000	68,122,000
1Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
2 Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
3 Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
4 Paid i.e. no further action.
5 Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.

Table B: Number of persons disqualified1 from driving at all courts for speeding offences detected by camera1,3, England and Wales, 1998–2002
Number
1998	1,300
1999	1,300
2000	1,400
2001	2,000
2002	1,800
1 Excludes persons disqualified under s.35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).
2 Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
3 Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportations have taken place under the Terrorism Act 2000 in each year for which records are available. [187597]

The Terrorism Act 2000 does not contain any provisions relating to deportation and there is no power under that Act to effect deportation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned cars were removed by (a) police and (b) local authorities in each local authority area in England in each of the past 10 years, broken down by region in descending order according to the biggest percentage drop in local authority area. [186099]

Estimates for numbers of abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed are compiled from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey for 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 and the Defra Abandoned Vehicle Survey for 2002–03. Estimates for vehicles removed by the police are not available. It is not practicable to sort the estimates due to the non-responses in certain years.Figures for England broken down by region have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to prevent criminal behaviour by animal rights organisations against lobster fishermen. [187429]

Responsibility for dealing with these matters lies with the police authorities to whom all incidences of criminal behaviour or threatened criminal behaviour should be reported.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the budget of (a) the Environment Agency, (b) the Countryside Agency and (c) English Nature in the North East region of England was in each of the last three years. [186431]

The budget for the Environment Agency's North East Region, which comprises the North East Region of England and most of the Yorkshire and Humber Region, was £83.8 million in 2001–02, £95.9 million in 2002–03 and £95.2 million in 2003–04. The Countryside Agency operates on a national rather than a regional basis, and figures for regional expenditure are not readily available. English Nature's budget for the North East Region of England was £1.8 million in 2001–02, £2.2 million in 2002–03 and –2.6 million in 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of fishing effort in UK fisheries identified by the EU Bycatch Regulation is conducted by vessels under 12 metres in length. [184896]

The new Council Regulation to address cetacean bycatch requires the use of `pingers' on vessels of 12 metres and over in ICES divisions VI Id, e, f, g, h and j when using bottom-set gillnets or entangling nets. In ICES Area IV and division IIIa, the pinger requirement applies to vessels of 12 metres and over using bottom-set gillnets or entangling nets where the combination of net lengths used does not exceed 400 metres or where the mesh size used is greater than or equal to 220mm. The data is not available to identify the number of vessels falling in or out of the latter categories; it is only possible to identify the total number of vessels using bottom-set gillnets and entangling nets in the areas concerned.Bearing in mind these caveats and using 2003 fishing data, the proportion of UK fishing effort (days at sea) conducted by vessels under 12 metres and exempt from the pinger requirements of the EU bycatch regulation would be approximately 80 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decision has been taken by her Department regarding the level of voluntary modulation on agricultural payments. [186558]

In her written statement to the House on 22 July, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced overall modulation rates for England of 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The overall modulation rate comprises two separate elements: compulsory EU-wide modulation, set at 3 per cent. in 2005 and 4 per cent. in 2006; and an additional national element which has been set at 2 per cent. in 2005 and 6 per cent. in 2006.

Percentage
	EU Rate	Additional national rate	Overall rate
2005	3.0	2.0	5.0
2006	4.0	6.0	10

While the compulsory EU modulation rate for 2007 and beyond has been set at 5 per cent., the additional national rate, and hence the overall modulation rate, has yet to be determined.The proceeds of modulation in 2005 and 2006 will be match funded by the Exchequer and used principally to finance schemes to deliver environmental enhancement and positive management of our countryside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the pilot projects dealing with fast food and litter partnerships; and if she will make a statement. [187571]

In fuly 2002, Defra asked ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) to devise a voluntary code of practice for the fay t food industry aimed at improving local environmental quality, and the instances of fast food waste that becomes litter in rural and urban areas.In November 2003, McDonald's and the Local Government Association (LGA) formed a pioneer partnership to assist local authorities in improving the quality of local environments and public spaces. The scheme was devised to support the Voluntary Code of Best Environmental Practice for the Fast Food Industry.The pilot scheme, covering a mix of rural and urban areas, is currently running in Sheffield, Maidstone, and Taunton and Deane. McDonald's and the LGA intention is to promote Defra's proposed code within each local authority, targeting all quick service restaurants in the area. The code sets out a framework for joint action between fast food businesses and land managers, and amongst others, encourages "litter patrols", the provision of litter bins and anti-littering signage.The work on the pilots has helped to inform our further work on the code in preparation for a formal launch later in the year, with analysis of the scheme's success planned in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department's fly-tipping strategy has affected the residents of Leyton and Wanstead. [187745]

Defra published a consultation document entitled the Fly-Tipping Strategy in February 2004. It proposed a range of measures that aimed to ensure that enforcement against fly-tipping is as effective as possible. The strategy proposed to move towards dealing with fly-tipping in a more pro-active preventative manner rather than focusing just on expensive clearance.The measures proposed in the strategy would give local authorities and the Environment Agency more effective powers for dealing wit a fly-tipping, which should lead to a better response to the blight of illegally dumped waste. Benefits will also extend to local residents by moving towards cleaner, safer, and greener public spaces and reducing the damaging effects of fly-tipping on the environment.The Fly-Tipping Strategy responses are currently being analysed and have fed in to development of a further set of options in the current Clean Neighbourhoods consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency's (a) procedure and (b) resources will he to ensure that all hazardous waste producers, including those producing small and sporadic quantities of hazardous waste, (i) are aware of and (ii) comply with the requirement to register as a hazardous waste producer. [187173]

Our proposals for new regulations for hazardous waste, including the proposed requirement for hazardous waste producers to notify their premises to the Environment Agency, were issued for consultation on 30 July. The consultation will run until 29 October and during this time, the Environment Agency will consider both how to make producers aware of their obligations and how to ensure compliance. The consultation paper seeks views on a general coming into force date fcr the regulations of July 2005, with the possibility of sites producing hazardous waste being notified fro n 1 April 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental implications of introducing variable charges for the collection of domestic household waste. [187278]

"Waste not, Want not—A strategy for tackling the waste problem in England" (Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, 27 November 2002) recommended that local authorities which wish to take forward variable charging or household incentive schemes to help reduce waste volumes and increase recycling should be allowed to do so.In line with their response to the Strategy Unit report, the Government has undertaken further work, in consultation with local authorities, on the practicalities of operating schemes and how potential disadvantages could be overcome. This work also analysed international experience of such schemes, including their impact on reducing waste and increasing recycling. In light of this work, the Government is reviewing their position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with retailers about the final waste disposal of radio barcodes contained within consumer goods. [187621]

I have not discussed the final waste disposal of radio barcodes contained within consumer goods with retailers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards meeting recycling targets of 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. [187011]

All local authorities in England have been set challenging Statutory Performance Standards for 2003–04 and 2005–06 for the recycling and composting of household waste. Individual local authority targets combine to meet national targets as set out in Waste Strategy 2000 to recycle or compost 17 per cent. of household waste by 2003–04, and 25 per cent. by 2005–06.In 2002–03, the household recycling and composting rate for England was 14.5 per cent., a 2 per cent. increase over 2001–02. This percentage rise represents a significant improvement compared with previous annual increases, which had tended to be around 1 per cent. (as measured by the Municipal Waste Management Survey).The most recent evidence, offered by local authorities' unaudited Best Value Performance Indicator data for 2003–04, suggests that the 2003–04 national target of 17 per cent. will be met. The national target for 2005–06 remains a significant challenge but an achievable goal if the current rate of progress is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the recycling of plastic; and if she will list those local authorities which operate (a) kerbside and (b) other plastic recycling schemes.

[holding answer 8 September 2004]: All local authorities in England have been set challenging Statutory Performance Standards for 2003–04 and 2005–06 for the recycling and composting of household waste. The Government do not specify which materials local authorities are required to collect. The Statutory Performance Standards are weight based so initially local authorities are likely to recycle heavier materials. However, as recycling targets become increasingly demanding, local authorities are expected to target lighter materials such as plastics.To make the recycling of plastic more economically attractive the Government-funded Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP) has developed a programme to expand markets for plastic recyclate. As a result of WRAP activity since 2001 in excess of 35,000 additional tonnes of plastic recycling capacity per year is either operational, under construction or otherwise committed.According to the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2002–03 the following local authorities operated

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she expects to agree a management plan for scallops, crabs and lobsters in the Western Channel; [187425]

The European Commission indicated in October 2003 that it would bring forward proposals for a management plan for scallops, lobsters and crabs in the Channel. It has not yet done so and we are not aware that such proposals are imminent.Data on shellfish landings by UK vessels and into UK ports are collected annually and published in the United Kingdom Fisheries Statistics series. They are not collected specifically for the purpose of agreeing management plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what back-office improvements will be made within the Environment Agency to achieve the efficiency savings announced in the spending review. [185893]

The agency is developing an efficiency strategy which builds on its current targets for efficiency savings and addresses operational changes in the organisation. The strategy will reflect the spending review announcement. The key activities that underpin the strategy include:

Review of property and facilities owned and leased by the agency;

Improving procurement: reducing the unit cost of goods and services through aggregation of services;

Transactional services: ensuring that the handling of inquiries and invoicing is handled in the most efficient way;

Productive time: examining new ways of working and reducing the scale of support services;

Implementation of the National Document Imaging Strategy: rationalising photocopiers, printer and fax machines throughout the agency;

Implementation of the Financial and Human Resources management information system (IBIS): an activity based recording system that will provide management information on the use of agency resources across the business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there are economic disincentives for waste-to-energy incinerators to burn source separated waste.[187069]

There are no direct economic disincentives for waste-to-energy incinerators to burn source separated waste. Incentives to recycle source separated waste exist and these act as indirect disincentives to burn source separated waste. Examples of these incentives include local authority statutory performance standards for recycling and composting and the recycling targets set out in the European directive on packaging and packaging waste.Government announced in Budget 2002 that the case for an economic instrument for incineration would be considered. As there is a range of issues associated with developing an effective waste management and disposal mix, the Government commissioned a study to identify the environmental and health impacts of all waste management and disposal options (http://www.defra.goy.uk/environment/waste/health-effects/health-report.pdf). A second, related study seeking to identify the economic values of the impacts and pollutants identified in the first study is currently under way.The case for using economic instruments for incineration will be considered in light of this work and in consultation with Dther stakeholders.

To Ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what resources he plans to commit to AIDS vaccine research in the next 10 years; [187466](2) what recent discussions he has had with the pharmaceutical industry regarding funding and facilities for the production of AIDS vaccine once developed. [187467]

In line with the recently published DFID Research Funding Strategy, we are committed to the global effort to find a vaccine for AIDS. DFID has committed £14 million in support of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) up to the end of this year and I recently met Dr. Seth Berkeley, who is president and chief executive the of IAVI, to discuss its work. The UK is also committed to work with our G8 colleagues. DFID supports the aims of the Global HIV and AIDS Vaccine Enterprise and are developing areas for UK engagement with the enterprise including potential financial support during the UKS G8 Presidency. Over the coming months DFID will be considering the resource framework for the three years commencing April 2005, including further support for IAVI and support for the Global Vaccine Enterprise.In addition to this direct support, the UK has tax relief for investments in research into vaccines and other medicines for HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The Vaccines Reseal ch Relief is effective on expenditure from April 2003. It is too early to report on the success of the Vaccines Research Relief since company tax returns are retrospective in nature. The first claims are not expected until later this year. However, a programme of evaluation will be implemented once data begins to be received. It is important to bear in mind the long-term nature of research decisions and outcomes and the fact that the impact of the relief is likely to appear over the medium to long term.DFID officials have been meeting regularly with pharmaceutical companies and business associations as part of our work on increasing access to medicines in developing countries. These meetings have dealt with issues such as the a affordability of existing medicines and other health technologies, and the need for increased research and development into new technologies—including vaccines for diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his plans are for his Department's involvement in the Beijing Platform for Action known as Beijing + 10. [187534]

The review of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action will he an integral part of the UK Government's work on gender equ day in 2005. The 49th Session of the Commission for the Status for Women (CSW) at the United Nations in March 2005 will review and appraise the implementation of Beijing over the last 10 years. A cross-Whitehall UK Government delegation will actively participate at CSW, working to ensure that the gains achieved at Beijing in 1995 are upheld. DFID has already begun contributing to this process, completing a United Nations questionnaire on progress made in the UK since 1995, which will feed into the UN Secretary-General's report.DFID is also working closely with the European Union Gender Group and other donors through the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee's (DAC) Gender Network, to develop a contribution to the review. We are attending regional preparatory meetings and working with civil society organisations. These include the UK Gender and Development Network, to whom DFID has provided support on a study examining the links between the Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Gender equality is relevant to the achievement of all the MDGs, not only that specifically aimed at gender equality and the empowerment of women. The review will be an opportunity to underline the continuing relevance of the Beijing Platform for Action to the achievement of gender equality.

Ref.	Project title	Contract issued value (£)	Value plus any amendments/extensions (£)	Contract let
19986930	Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF): Advice and Guidance on the Build-Operate Train Tran	426,749	491,520	28 April 1999
19997568	Construction Adviser	29,090	66,290	10 May 1999
19997201	Malawi Haulage Costs Study	102,590	110,840	13 May 1999
19999064	Kharkiv Solid Waste Management: Ukraine	49,947	49,947	3 November 1999
19999310	Drainage Engineer	89,495	89,495	20 December 1999
20000009	World Bank Urban Transport Strategy Review—Review of Experience in Competiton in Urban Public Trans	29,762	29,762	7 January 2000
20000012	World Bank Urban Transport Strategy Review—Review of Urban Mass Transit in Developing Countries	39,987	39,987	7 January 2000
19999349	Slope Stability/Geotechnical Engineer	22,780	22,780	19 January 2000
19999283	Construction of Bhairab Bridge: Phase 2	2,484,879	6,103,093	7 February 2000
20000182	Professional Advice and Specialist Human Resources: Transport (Halcrow)	0	0	9 February 2000
20000203	Professional Advice and Specialist Human Resources: Energy (Halcrow Gilbert)	0	0	17 February 2000
20000160	Provision of Professional Advice and Specialist Human Resources (Halcrow)	0	0	2 March 2000
20000373	Kharkiv Solid Waste Management—Ukraine	7,111	7,111	7 March 2000
19999353	Philippines National Road Bridges Project	562,525	562,525	16 August 2000
20001267	Municipal Utilities Development Programme (MUDP)	98,921	98,921	12 September 2000
20001218	Strengthening Capacity in Environmental Project Development	547,455	565,510	3 November 2000

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department's policy on taking risks of natural and man-made disasters into account will change following the report by his Department's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department. [186721]

A reduction in the impact of natural and man-made disasters is an important precondition for poverty reduction in many countries.DFID is in the process of reviewing how we might step up our work in this area. A scoping study, commissioned by DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department and undertaken by the Overseas Development Group, will soon report. The study will examine the relationship between development and disasters so as to help the development community and DFID better understand how we might tackle disasters risk most effectively. It will also consider how to better integrate disaster risk reduction into development. We intend to develop a forward strategy for DFID on disaster reduction in the light of the findings of this study. The findings will be disseminated to interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to Halcrow Group Ltd. for the financial years (a) 2003–04, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2001–02, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 1999–2000; what the value of each contract was; and what the nature of each contract was. [188311]

DFID's headquarters has issued the following contracts to the Halcrow Group Ltd. since 1999. A small number of low-value contracts may also have issued from DFID's overseas offices, but information on this is not held centrally, and could be provided only by incurring a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact on girls' school enrolment of increased access to sanitation; and how this is taken into account in the design of the programmes funded by his Department in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goal to eliminate gender disparity in education. [188058]

DFID's assessment of this relationship is two-fold. First, access to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and information on hygiene all improve the quality of the school environment and result in better learning outcomes for girls. Provision of basic facilities ensures universal basic education and results in increased enrolment of girls in schools. Basic sanitation for girls in particular, can lead to lower dropout rate for girls, especially at puberty. For example, in Bangladesh, a school sanitation and hygiene education programme reported to increase girls' attendance rates by 11 per cent.Second, parents are more likely to send girls to school when they have ready access to safe, drinking water and girls are no longer required to collect water from distant water pumps.An example of how this assessment has been used in DFID's work is in Sudan. As part of its support for the peace process in Sudan, DFID has provided approximately £2 million to assist the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) education programmes in the conflict affected areas of the country, providing books and materials to over 2,000 primary schools and supporting the construction of water and sanitation facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the town of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. [187517]

The Israeli operation "Forward Shield" in Beit Hanoun has led to extensive damage and destruction to property, including agricultural land and infrastructure, in one of Gaza's most important agricultural regions. The levelling of a further 17 per cent. of total arable land in the last two months adds to the debilitating impact on the livelihoods and food security of Palestinians in the area. Over 50 per cent. of total agricultural land in the area has now been uprooted since September 2000. As a result of residential buildings being destroyed, 145 people have been made homeless and another 580 people have had their homes damaged. Damage to public property has led to breaks in the water, power, sewerage and road networks. In addition, 17 privately owned water-wells were destroyed with consequences for access to drinking water and agricultural use. DFID funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency provides support for affected people in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent meetings he has had with non-governmental organisations to discuss the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. [186440]

During my visit to Sudan in June, I met with representatives from non-governmental organisations in Khartoum and Darfur. Since my return, I have been in correspondence with several NGOs including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Save the Children UK. Officials from the joint FCO/ DFID Sudan Unit hold frequent meetings with NGO representatives in Khartoum and London.The Foreign Secretary also met with NGO representatives in Khartoum and Darfur during his visit to Sudan in August. He also met with representatives in London prior to his departure and following his return.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received about the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. [186473]

I am gravely concerned about the situation in Darfur, Sudan and am keeping in close contact with developments. I am in regular dialogue about the humanitarian situation in Darfur with UN agencies, and Development Ministers in other donor Governments. I am also in regular correspondence with the NGO community. I receive numerous letters on Darfur from Members of this House, as well as from members of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in (a) Sudan and (b) the Darfur region. [186478]

Sudan is a country in the midst of a chronic complex emergency. UN social indicators continue to be among the lowest in the world. Large areas of the country outside the more affluent area of Khartoum continue to need life-saving and life-sustaining assistance. Continuing conflict in many areas has resulted in persistently high levels of poverty as agricultural production is disrupted and land taken out of cultivation due to instability.With the expectation of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the coming months, humanitarian needs are likely to increase as the needs of returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from the conflict between the north and south of Sudan add to those affected by natural disaster.In Southern Sudan, 23 years of conflict has created critical food insecurity, an almost total lack of primary health care outside of what is provided by NGOs, and crisis levels of mortality and morbidity across the area. The conflict is estimated to have displaced 4 million people out of a total population of 5 million, some of whom are now refugees and some are IDPs. (A breakdown of this is provided in the table). The critical issue for the humanitarian community in the south is ensuring a stable and sustainable environment to help displaced people to return home. While the Comprehensive Peace Agreement holds out the prospect of peace in Southern Sudan, fighting continues, with an outbreak of militia activity in the Shilluk Kingdom, which has displaced 50,000 people since March 2004.Other areas of concern in Sudan include the Red Sea State in Northern Sudan, where the population of 700,00 has suffered persistent drought and repeated crop failures since 1988. The rainfall and predicted agricultural production for 2004 is better than the last few years, but due to the prolonged nature of the crisis, a large proportion of the general population is likely to remain short of food and to require food and nutritional assistance for some time to come.

Summary of Sudanese IDPs end refugees
	Number	Source
IDPs
Greater Khartoum	2,000,000	Norwegian Refugee Council, 2004 and UN OCHA, 2004
Northern Sudan (not Khartoum or Darfur)	362,000
Darfur	1,000,000+
Southern Sudan	750,000+
Total	4,112,000
Sudanese refugees
Uganda	223,000	UN High Commissioner for Regugee (UNHCR), 2004
Chad	110,000
Ethiopia	90,000
Democratic Republic of the Congo	70,000
Kenya	68,000
Central African Republic	36,000
Egypt	30,000
Eritrea	660
Total	627,660
Refugees in Sudan
Total from Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and others	270,000	UNHCR, 2004

The humanitarian situation in Darfur remains dire and urgent action is needed on all sides. Over 1.2 million people have been internally displaced in Darfur, and a further 200,000 have fled to Chad. The needs are enormous. Security in the camps has improved, but reports of attacks continue outside the camps, and IDPs, refugees and host communities in Darfur and Eastern Chad remain vulnerable as inter-tribal fighting continues and the levels of banditry and general insecurity remain. IDPs and refugees still lack adequate water and sanitation and many do not have adequate shelter against the rain and extreme conditions. Outbreaks of disease are a serious concern (a hepatitis E outbreak has already been diagnosed in West Darfur). Aid agencies are scaling up delivery of assistance, but capacity constraints remain. The UN estimates that 1,000 international staff are needed to cope with the crisis; 500 are currently working in Darfur. Humanitarian access has however improved and over 45 NGOs are registered, although not all are operational. The rainy season from May to September has also resulted in logistical difficulties, with the World Food Programme (WFP) resorting to airdrops of food in some inaccessible areas. A further constraint is that resources are still limited. The UN has revised its appeal for the crisis in Darfur and now estimates that it needs a total of $530 million for Chad and Darfur, of which $255 million is unmet. The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response, having allocated $62.5 million since September 2003. DFID is urging other donors to do more.