To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what action she has taken to ensure that access to public swimming pools in London increases; [186923]

(2) what action she (a) can and (b) will take to increase the number of swimming pools in London. [186924]

pursuant to his reply, 7 September 2004, Official Report, c. 1226W

The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) is one of the 12 National Governing Bodies (NGB) able to bid for Community Club Development Programme funding from a budget of £20 million. £1.66 million has been earmarked for each NGB's ability to propose and deliver projects that meet the criteria of the programme.

I regret that in my previous answer I intimated that the ASA would receive £1.6 million from the Community Club Development Programme without first having to meet the set criteria for the Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many care homes in the UK are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of block television reception licences for sheltered housing. [190149]

The Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary scheme is open to nursing and residential homes and sheltered housing schemes which meet the qualifying criteria set out in the television licence fee regulations. 28,028 such establishments held concessionary licences at the end of August 2004, as recorded by TV Licensing. Entitlement to the concession can be determined only on receipt of an application; no information is therefore available on the eligibility of establishments which have not applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are in receipt of a free television licence in the United Kingdom over the age of 75 years. [190259]

At the end of August 2004, approximately 3.5 million people aged 75 or over were in receipt of a free television licence. In addition, just under 400,000 over-75s living in housing covered by Accommodation for Residential Care group licences had their £5 fee waived under the free licence scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department and (b) agencies of the Department have spent on electricity use in each year since 1997. [181373]

The amounts spent by the Ministry of Defence in the UK on the purchase of electricity are:

These figures are VAT exclusive at current prices. Comparable figures are not available after 2000–01 as the Ministry of Defence moved to reporting of aggregated utilities (gas, electricity and water supply) expenditure in the Departmental Resources and Accounts. However details of expenditure on utilities is published in the National Statistics Publication: UK Defence Statistics 2003: Table 1.8 Defence Expenditure Outturn in the UK by Industry Group. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is implementing the full terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [189788]

With the exception of the Special Forces and any military unit assisting GCHQ, the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. As such, we will comply with the duties which the Act places on all public authorities. In accordance with the timetable announced in November 2001, the first phase of implementation was achieved in November 2002 when MOD's Publication Scheme was made available. The general right of access to information will be implemented from 1 January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual operating cost is per (a) Tornado GR, (b) Jaguar GR1/A/3/3A, (c) Jaguar T2A/T4 and (d) Tornado F3; and what the estimated average operating cost is per Eurofighter. [190056]

The average annual operating cost per aircraft is as follows:

The estimated cost for the Eurofighter Typhoon is £4.7 million for 2004–05. This annual average will increase over time as the number of hours flown by each aircraft increases.

The figures in the table are based on the Actual Operating Fleet (average annual number of aircraft available to the RAF).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual support cost is per (a) Tornado GR, (b) Jaguar GR1/A/3/3A, (c) Jaguar T2A/T4 and (d) Tornado F3; and what the estimated average support cost is per Eurofighter. [190057]

The average annual cost incurred by the Defence Logistics Organisation (at 2004–05 prices) to support a Tornado aircraft is £1.6 million and £1.5 million for the Jaguar. As many of the spares and much of the equipment used to support an aircraft fleet is common across all variants, it is not possible to accurately attribute costs to individual marks of aircraft.

Based on through-life support estimates it is expected that the total, Defence-wide, annual average support cost (at 2004–05 prices) for a Eurofighter aircraft will be £2.2 million.

As part of our drive to transform logistics we are working with industry to reduce the costs of supporting in-service aircraft, including the future fast-jet fleet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of Provigil and similar drugs have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost. [187495]

The quantity and cost of Provigil purchased by the MOD in the last five years is as follows:

⁽¹⁾ 720 packs x 30 tablets = 21,600 tablets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has come from renewable sources in each year since 1997. [181291]

The Ministry of Defence and its agencies did not purchase any electricity from climate change levy exempt sources until 2002–03 when 2.8 per cent. was acquired from such sources. The estimate for 2003–04 is 5 per cent. based on the minimum percentage specified in electricity supply contracts. Actual figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) the total strength of the Territorial Army, (b) the number of mobilised reservists and (c) the current Territorial Army deployment figures are. [189804]

The information is as follows:

As at 1 September 2004:

(a) the total strength of Territorial Army was 35,480;

(b) the number of Army mobilised Regular Reservists was 100;

(c) the number of mobilised TA personnel was 2,200.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 21–39, on Iraq, whether the routine hooding of prisoners in UK facilities in Iraq was contrary to instructions; on what basis the routine hooding was authorised, and by whom; whether hooding continues of Iraqis by UK forces outside UK facilities; whether hooding by UK forces outside facilities is contrary to instructions; and if he will make a statement. [173024]

Prisoners held in UK detention facilities in Iraq have not, at any time, been routinely hooded.

Hooding was discontinued in Iraq when there was no longer a military justification for continuing the practice. Hooding during arrest and transit is acceptable when there is a strong military reason to do it, for example to offer security to our own forces and locations or to protect the detainee (by preventing identification by other detainees).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many regiments will be based in Wales following the review of the infantry. [189710]

Details of the new infantry structure and the associated implications for the Army's basing strategy are currently being worked through by the Army and the hon. Member will understand that I cannot pre-empt this work. Further announcements will be made before the end of this year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will evaluate the quality of the advice given to his Department by English Heritage. [190165]

English Heritage provides the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with advice on a range of matters. These include the review of the planning system, and characterisation of growth areas. The Government are satisfied with the advice provided, and does not see the need for a more formal evaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the major initiatives his Department has undertaken since 1997 in relation to disabled people. [188152]

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1738W. In addition to the Government initiatives that he has already outlined, I would like to set out in more detail some of the work my Department is delivering in this important area.

The Green Paper "Every Child Matters" set out a vision for children's services, which included proposals to provide education, health, and social care around the needs of the child rather than the needs of professionals. It proposed that new Children's Director posts be established in each local authority with responsibility for education and social care and the development of Children's Trusts to commission multi-agency services including health, education and social care. A number of Children Trust Pilots were set up to test how this could work. This has included eight Children's Trusts who are focusing on services for disabled children.

Proposals in the Green Paper for a common assessment framework, improving information sharing and providing lead professionals for children with complex needs, will particularly benefit disabled children and their families. The Green Paper has also set out some specific commitments on disabled children around improving early intervention, family support, education and transition services.

The National Service Framework for children was published last month. This is a joint DH/DfES publication. The national standards in the NSF provide a coherent and integrated approach to services for disabled children. They will help ensure better access and smoother progression in the provision of services for children, from initial contact with the NHS, via a GP surgery or NHS hospital, through to social services support and education.

We have provided ring-fenced Sure Start funding to local authorities for disabled children in early years settings, and ensured such settings pay due regard to the SEN code of practice. This includes the introduction of Special Needs Coordinators, (SENCOs), for early years provision. The Disability Discrimination Act was also amended to include Government funded nursery education and child-care provision within its duties, along with general education.

As a result of the Special Education Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001, schools are under a duty not to discriminate against disabled pupils for a reason relating to their disability. They must:

not treat disabled pupils less favourably, without justification, than pupils and students who are not disabled; and

make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled pupils and students are not put at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to those who are not disabled.

Schools and local education authorities (LEAs) are also under a duty to plan strategically to increase access to schools for disabled pupils and must publish accessibility plans (schools) and accessibility strategies (LEAs). The duty covers improvements to physical access, access to the curriculum, and access to information in alternative formats.

"Removing Barriers to Achievement", published this year, set out a long term vision for SEN and a programme of action to improve outcomes for children with SEN and disabilities. It included the development of a strategy to improve childcare for families with disabled children and practical tools to support schools in carrying out their statutory duties towards disabled pupils.

New duties were also placed on those bodies responsible for Further and Higher Education Institutions, Adult and Community Learning and Statutory Youth Services by SENDA. These duties include:

it being unlawful to discriminate against disabled students by treating them less favourably than others;

making provision for reasonable adjustments, including the accessibility of course materials, where disabled students might otherwise be substantially disadvantaged;

from 2005, the need to adapt the physical features of premises.

In addition, Section 13 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 requires the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to pay particular regard to the needs of young people and adults with learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD) when exercising its functions. Section 14 requires the LSC to have due regard to the promotion of equality of opportunity between people with a disability and people without.

From 1 October 2004 the Disability Discrimination Act has been extended to provide protection to people undertaking vocational qualifications. Organisations which award qualifications will be prohibited from discriminating against disabled people, must make reasonable adjustments in the assessment of candidates and must be able to demonstrate that competency standards represent a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim and do not unnecessarily discriminate. This provides a link between the employment provisions in Part II and those covering vocational training provided by Part IV and SENDA so that the legislation extends across all aspects of work and vocational training.

Since 1997, the number of Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) awards—grants to help pay for the extra course-related costs which students in higher education may incur because of a disability or specific learning difficulty—has increased from 8,123 (expenditure £10.4 million) in 1996–97 to 47,523 (expenditure £54.9 million) in 2002–03. DSAs are not income-assessed and are paid in addition to the package of support for living costs available to other students. From 2005–06 DSAs are to be extended for the first time to full-time undergraduate students undertaking distance-learning courses.

Further details of all of these initiatives can be found in the DfES Departmental Reports on the DfES website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the age bar for children who are not 16 in the requisite time period for the eligibility for education maintenance allowance; what leniency in determining awards is allowed; and what plans he has to change existing arrangements. [190211]

We took the decision to phase in EMA from September 2004 to successive 16-year-old age groups rather than immediately offer the award to all young people in Further Education. There were good reasons for doing so. The main purpose of EMA is to encourage students to stay on in learning when otherwise they would have dropped out, and the older students already in education have already made that choice. The main exception is that young people who received EMA under the pilot arrangements are eligible to apply for EMA under the national scheme. We are keeping the EMA scheme arrangements under review but do not envisage any significant changes to the eligibility criteria for 2005–06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why educational maintenance allowance eligibility is based on the previous tax year; and if he will make a statement. [190212]

Assessing EMA entitlement on the household income for the previous financial year provides the most complete and secure assessment of household income. If the household income decreases significantly within the year then the young person can apply for assistance under the Learner Support Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) which variant of the education maintenance allowances pilot schemes was selected for implementation in England; [190371]

(2) what financial assistance is available to students in sixth form education whose birth date falls before 1 September 1987. [190419]

We tested eight different variants of EMA in 56 LEA pilot areas. The national EMA scheme draws on the evidence from the pilots but is not based on any single variant. Students who are resident within one of the 56 pilot areas and whose date of birth falls before 1 September 1987 may be entitled to EMA. Those young people whose date of birth falls before 1 September 1987 and who are not resident within a pilot area are entitled to apply for Learner Support funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of (a) the cost of the strategic area reviews of further education colleges and (b) the effect of the five-year plan on the progress of the reviews. [190079]

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was established in 2001 to plan and fund post-16 education and training. LSC led strategic area reviews (StARs) were introduced in April 2003 and are an integral part of this planning role. No extra funding was allocated to carry out these reviews and it is therefore not possible to disaggregate their specific cost from the overall cost of the wide range of planning activities carried out by local LSCs.

The DfES's five-year strategy published in July sets out our vision for an education and skills system to meet the needs of the 21st century. The StAR process supports this vision by mapping local provision and identifying the balance of provision there needs to be in a locality. The progress of the StAR process has not been affected in anyway by the five-year strategy and is still expected to complete in spring 2005 as originally planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) whether providers of NVQ2 in plumbing are able to supply sufficient numbers of qualified assessors for students to be able to continue with their qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the requirement for workplace assessment; [190013]

(2) what the ratio is of qualified assessors to students with regard to the NVQ2 in plumbing, broken down by each institution that offers this qualification; [190014]

(3) how many providers are no longer able to offer NVQ2 for plumbing in the current academic year due to not being able to meet its required rates of qualified assessors to students. [190016]

The information on the ratio of qualified assessors to learners is not available within the Department.

The organisation of assessment arrangements is for the awarding bodies in conjunction with the centres which they have approved to deliver their qualifications, which in the case of the NVQ2 in plumbing is City and Guilds.

The assessment strategies that must be implemented in NVQs are specified by the appropriate Sector Skills Council or sector body and approved by the regulatory authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many decisions taken by schools in Buckinghamshire permanently to exclude pupils were reversed by independent appeals panels in each year since 2000–01. [189842]

The requested information is given in the following table.

Figures for 2003–04 are not yet available. In January 2003 we reformed the legislation governing exclusion appeal panels to strike a better balance between the interests of the individual pupil and those of the school community as a whole. We changed the composition of independent appeal panels to include more members with experience of school life. Our guidance is that panels should not normally reinstate excluded pupils for a range of offences, including threatened or actual violence.

Maintained primary, secondary and special schools⁽²⁾: summary of exclusion appeals 2000–01 to 2002–03

⁽²⁾ Excludes non-maintained special schools.

⁽³⁾ Shown as a percentage of appeals lodged.

⁽⁴⁾ Shown as a percentage of appeals heard.

Source:

School Exclusion Appeals Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to fill the post of coordinator for the Sustainable Development Action Plan; and if he will make a statement. [190220]

An appointment is in the process of being made and will be confirmed shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) antisocial behaviour orders and (b) curfew orders have been made in the Buckingham constituency since the commencement of the schemes. [189857]

The information is as follows.

1 April 1999. From commencement, up to 31 March 2004 (latest available), the Home Office has been notified of three ASBOs issued where restrictions imposed are specific to Aylesbury Vale district council area of which the Buckingham constituency forms a part.(a) Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available to the courts since

(b) The table shows the number of curfew orders with and without electronic monitoring made at courts in the County of Buckinghamshire from 1996 to 2002. Court proceedings data for2003 will be available in November. It is not possible from the data available centrally to identify those made in the Buckingham constituency.

Number of persons given curfew orders⁽⁵⁾ in Buckinghamshire, 1996–2002

⁽⁵⁾ Electronic and non-electronic orders.

No applications have yet been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Some local authorities and police forces have considered the possibility but concluded that other measures should be taken to tackle relevant local problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how contestability differs from (a) market testing and (b) privatisation. [168393]

Contestability means obtaining the best value for money and the most effective supervision, punishment and care of offenders by opening up the prison and probation service to competition. We aim to engage the public, private, voluntary and 'not for profit' sectors, both in prison and the community, so that we can enhance public protection and deliver the most effective and efficient management of offenders. Market Testing, which has already been used successfully in the Prison Service and has demonstrated that public services can compete effectively with the private sector, is only one of a number of ways of achieving that aim.

Privatisation, which means selling a publicly provided service to the private sector, is not being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) how many reported injuries have resulted from police use of CS gas spray in each of the last five years; and how many of those injured were police officers; [189505]

(2) how many complaints have been received in connection with the use of CS gas spray by police officers in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and what the outcome of each complaint was. [189506]

Information about the number and outcome of police complaints received relating to specific situations is not held centrally by the Home Office. It could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Similarly, information about the number of injuries caused by police use of CS spray is not centrally held, and could again be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to review the status of witnesses in cases of dangerous driving. [187387]

The Association of Chief Police Officer's Road Death Investigation Manual aims to achieve consistent professional investigation of incidents. In the early stages of investigation, one of the most important sources of evidence may be the identification of witnesses. The manual provides guidance to practitioners on how to gather evidence and secure the accounts of witnesses.

The 'No Witness No Justice Project' aims to deliver a more customer-focused service to victims and witnesses to enable more witnesses to give evidence and increase victims and witness satisfaction.

Different approaches to support services for incidents that lead to death or serious injury are being piloted. The pilots are subject to independent evaluation and will inform national standards of care for people affected by road death and serious injury.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy. [188689]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All areas of the Department participate in recycling but the way in which it is carried out and the types of materials recycled varies. For the central London estate the waste is sorted by specialist contractors after collection and waste paper and card, among other materials, are extracted for recycling. The overall recycling rate is around 25 per cent. Confidential waste paper is collected separately, shredded and then recycled.

We are currently developing a strategy in response to the waste targets recently published under the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. This strategy will cover how we will centrally collect waste data. A summary of the strategy will be published on the Home Office website by the end of October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to ensure journalists are able to protect their sources. [186756]

[holding answer 13 September 2004]

I have been asked to reply.

Section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act protects people, including journalists, from revealing their sources. In addition, the industry's voluntary Code of Practice, administered by the Press Complaints Commission, recognises that journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information. The Government have no plans for further legislation in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have called Crimestoppers in connection with the Name that Tag campaign; what the duration of the campaign was; how many tags were published over the course of the campaign; how many police investigations are under way as a result; and what the total cost of the campaign was. [190046]

In addition to approximately 130 calls to Crime Watch UK when name that tag was first publicised, 35 actionable calls have been made to Crimestoppers in connection with the Name that Tag campaign.

The campaign, with posters displaying 12 tags, initially ran for three months beginning in November 2003 but it has been left open-ended as the posters have generated more information and they are in fact still on display. Since my hon. Friend Paul Goggins' answer to the hon. Member on 7 September 2004, Official Report, column 813W two people have been arrested as a result of the campaign. A further nine people are at various stages of investigation relating to the published tags, and a further seven prolific taggers are also under police investigation. The initiative cost to the Home Office was £3,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed (a) directly and (b) indirectly, by (i) the Police Complaints Commission for England and Wales and (ii) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for England and Wales. [189664]

holding answer 11 October 2004

It is assumed that the Police Complaints Commission for England and Wales referred to is the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which was established under the Police Reform Act 2002 and commenced operations on 1 April 2004. This body replaced the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) which ceased operations on 31 March 2004.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in Avon and Somerset in each year since 1979. [188667]

The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each Police Authority and the Chief Officer.

The Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset Police informs me that reliable information, available only from 1992–93, is as follows:

Notes:

1. A police station is defined as an operational police facility with a public enquiry counter open during the day.

2. In March 2004, there were 43 police stations in Avon and Somerset.

In addition to the station openings above, Avon and Somerset have recently introduced six mobile police stations.

The closure of police stations in the early 1990s was part of a force modernisation programme. Divisional boundaries were reviewed, assets were streamlined, and a number of local beat stations were closed. Sale proceeds increased the police capital programme, including further enhancement of district stations to improve service.

Between 2000–01 and 2003–04 Avon and Somerset Police Authority invested over £11 million directly in Land and Buildings¹ .

Avon and Somerset also provide public access through Beat Surgeries in public buildings such as libraries and community centres and in busy shopping centres.

¹ Source

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Police Statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the changes in police officer numbers in Essex has been since 1997. [186317]

[holding answer 7 September 2004]

On 31 May 2004 Essex police had 3,130 police officers, a record number and 169 more than in March 1997. The table shows strength for each year since March 1997.

Essex police: strength March 1997 to May 2004

⁽⁶⁾ Source for 1997 to March 2004 is the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS). August 2004 was collected separately outside of the normal data collection arrangements and has not been subject to the same validation as RDS data.

⁽⁷⁾ Boundary changes with the Metropolitan police on 1 April 2000 contributed to the increase in police officer strength during 2000–01.

⁽⁸⁾ This corrects information provided in the Official Report, column 876, where "all officers" for 31 March 2003 had been provided in error, rather than "all officers (excl. career brakes and maternity leave)".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many equal pay cases have been taken against the Prison Service in England and Wales in each year since 1997. [187958]

The number of claims for each year are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rationale underlay the decision to permit prisoners serving life sentences to buy national lottery tickets; and if he will make a statement. [188575]

No one, including those serving a life sentence is permitted to buy national lottery tickets while they are in prison. The ticket purchased recently by a life sentence prisoner who won the Lotto (the National Lottery) was purchased while that individual was released from prison on temporary licence.

Temporary licences are granted as part of the resettlement process for those prisoners who are reaching the end of their sentence and are preparing for release. Under the terms of a temporary licence, a prisoner is bound by certain conditions aimed at preventing further offending and any antisocial behaviour. If these conditions are broken, they are recalled to prison immediately. The purchase of lottery tickets is not prohibited by the licence conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the pay scales are for (a) administrative officers in the Prison Service and (b) prison officers; and what job evaluation exercises have been carried out by the Prison Service in respect of administrative posts in the past five years. [189867]

The pay scale for Administrative Officers in the Prison Service is £12,502-£15,415. That for Prison Officers is £16,896-£24,868, with Long Service Increments rising to £25,788.

The Prison Service introduced Phase 1 of its review of pay and grading in July 2000. This affected 2,500 middle and senior managers, including those in administrative and operational disciplines, and replaced more than 150 existing grades with a seven-payband common.

Development of Phase 2 of the review, which would have included administrative posts, was halted in April 2002, with the project work subsumed within pay modernisation.

To date, the Prison Service has carried out 507 individual job evaluations. The system evaluates the job and not the individual job-holder, so it is not possible to identify how many of these jobs were held by administrative grades without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2004, Official Report, columns 610–11W, on prisons, if he will make it mandatory that prison staff who wish to become prison healthcare officers obtain the relevant qualifications before taking up the posts; and if he will make a statement. [187477]

There are no present plans to do so. However, the Prison Service continues to discuss with stakeholders the future options for healthcare officers, including training.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made to the (a) management, (b) welfare and (c) deployment of special constables in the Thames Valley area since January 2002. [189972]

Chief Officers have responsibility for the management, welfare and deployment of their Special Constabularies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and searched by West Yorkshire Police during 2002–03, broken down by (a) age, (b) ethnicity and (c) sex. [189503]

During 2002–03 the total number of persons stopped and searched by West Yorkshire Police under Section 5 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 was 46,707. Of these, 37,255 had their visual appearance recorded as white, 2,901 as black, 5,830 as Asian, and 721 as of 'other' ethnicity.

In the same period, a further 1,155 persons were stopped and searched under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Of these, 607 were white, 82 black, 435 Asian, and 31 of 'other' ethnicity.

Stops and searches under the provisions of Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 during 2002–03 totalled 18, 13 of white individuals, two of Asians, and three of persons of 'Other' ethnicity.

No information is recorded centrally on the age and sex of those stopped and searched.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer 187060 of 7 September 2004, Official Report, column 965W, how many (a) female and (b) male young offenders aged 18 to 21 years were held (i) over 50 miles and (ii) over 100 miles from their committal court town. [190061]

As at 7 July 2004, from the information available, the distance that young offenders aged 18 to 21 years, male and female, were held from their committal court towns is set out in the table.

Note:

An individual prisoner's court details are recorded to show first court appearance, committal, remand, conviction or sentencing courts. Information specifically on committal court details is not available for all prisoners and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Where a prisoner's committal court data is unavailable, the prisoner's remand court or convicting and sentencing court is used.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment he has made of the health and safety implications for (a) Members, (b) Members' staff, (c) staff of the House and (d) the general public of allowing access to areas in which work was continuing as part of the summer works programme, with particular reference to risks arising from storage of timber and flammable liquids in the Committee Corridor. [189983]

The Head of the Parliamentary Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Services has carried out an investigation into the health and safety arrangements relevant to works projects during the summer recess 2004. In summary, his findings were that:

The health and safety arrangements in connection with construction projects were generally to acceptable standards.

Health and safety in construction projects undertaken on the Parliamentary Estate has significantly improved over recent years.

The stairs leading to the Members' Tea Room, though unsightly, were found to be in a safe condition for use.

There have been no reported accidents related to non construction staff during the summer recess period; and no significant incidents at all, which overall is a good record.

There are a number of learning points where improvements can be made for future construction projects, in particular better cordoning off and signage for construction related areas.

At the time of the investigation, there were no flammable liquids or timber stored in the Committee Corridor. However, observation by others during the peak period of the works projects confirms that flammable liquids were securely stored in line with good practice and timber was stored temporarily in cordoned off areas for short periods prior to use.

The full report is lodged in the House of Commons Library and copies have been sent to Mr Speaker and to the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 9 September 2004, Official Report, column 1330W, on September sittings, if he will estimate the cost of the summer works programme had the September sitting of the House not taken place; and what the actual cost will be. [189984]

The estimated cost of the summer works programme for 2004 is some £5.7 million against a figure of around £5.6 million if the House had not sat in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the status of the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline; and what diplomatic discussions he has had with those countries involved on the likely outcome of this project. [190213]

The pipeline is a matter for routine discussion between UK Government Ministers and officials with interlocutors in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The pipeline, which is currently under construction, will be the first to transport oil from the Caspian direct to the Mediterranean, thus reducing the amount of fuel, which would otherwise be passing through the congested and environmentally hazardous Bosphorus. The pipeline and its route is a commercial matter between BTC Pipeline Company and the host countries.

More broadly, the UK Government have been actively involved in discussions between companies, civil society and the Government of Azerbaijan on Azerbaijan's involvement in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a UK-led international initiative to ensure transparency over revenues from the oil, gas and mining sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government has made available to the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline. [190214]

The British Government are not providing direct funding for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) project.

The UK Government are a shareholder of International Finance Corporation (IFC) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Both organisations are providing commercial loans of US$250 million.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has provided cover for a US$106 million line of credit to finance UK contractors involved in the BTC project. This does not involve direct lending from ECGD, but an ECGD guarantee of commercial bank lending to the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have expressed opposition to the Baku-T'blisi-Ceyhan pipe line; what discussions he has had with the (a) World Bank and (b) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the British position regarding the pipe line; and if he will make a statement. [190215]

The Governments of the countries concerned (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey) have all signed agreements governing the building and operation of the pipeline. DFID has not received any representations from any governments expressing opposition to the pipeline.

DFID Ministers approved the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) UK Executive Directors support for the project at the Executive Board meetings in November 2003. There is ongoing dialogue with the IFC and EBRD to ensure lessons learnt from this project inform future policies and projects funded by the Banks.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided by the UK Government for the consequences of Hurricane Ivan in the Cayman Islands. [190275]

Following the impact of the hurricane, HMS Richmond and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler began helping the relief effort at the earliest opportunity. DFID also responded to an urgent request from the Government of the Cayman Islands by providing urgent relief items, including plastic sheeting. DFID has since sent flights containing potable water, hygiene materials and other requested items. The cost of this direct assistance is about £200,000. DFID has also contributed £500,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross regional appeal, for the provision of emergency food, shelter needs, water and sanitation and various non-food items. The Regional Appeal includes support to 1,000 affected families in Cayman Islands for six months.

The British Government are providing £100,000 towards the costs associated with the deployment of a contingent from the Bermuda Regiment who are currently helping with the continuing clean up on the Islands. We have also provided advisory support including a Law Enforcement Adviser, a Disaster Preparedness Adviser and reinforced the Governor's office.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much additional resources have been made available to (a) Grenada, (b) the Cayman Islands and (c) the Caribbean region as a result of Hurricane Ivan. [190276]

To date, DFID has committed around £3.4 million of assistance to the Caribbean region including our share of European Community commitments, following the impact of Hurricane Ivan on affected countries. Of this approximately £840,000 and £300,000 have been provided in direct support to relief needs in Grenada and Cayman Islands respectively. In addition to this assistance, HMS Richmond and RFA Wave Ruler were deployed to both islands to offer and provide immediate humanitarian support. We are considering further support to affected countries through United Nation agencies, the International Federation of the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.

The European Community has announced it is mobilising £4.65 million in emergency relief and post emergency rehabilitation to help Grenada focusing on the provision of emergency shelter, food, water and other key supplies for 5,000 homeless families. It includes funds to be mobilized under the ninth European Development Fund, that are expected to be utilised primarily for school rehabilitation. The United Kingdom's share of this European Community assistance is about £700,000. The European Commission has also pledged £830,000 to Jamaica through its Humanitarian Aid Office, focusing on reducing the number of persons in temporary shelters and providing alternative accommodation for those currently housed in schools. The United Kingdom's share of this support is about £150,000. The European Community has announced a contribution of £1 million towards emergency relief in Haiti. The United Kingdom share of this humanitarian assistance is approximately £180,000.

The World Bank is providing £5.55 million to Grenada from its contingency facility for regional disaster management. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has provided a £55,475 grant and £277,360 soft loan to Grenada for short-term disaster recovery. The Inter-American Development Bank has provided a £111,000 grant through the Caribbean Development Bank. The Inter-American Development Bank is providing a £111,000 technical assistance grant for Jamaica.

The Caribbean Development Bank has offered up to £277,360 in concessional lending to each of the affected member countries in the region, along with a £55,475 assessment grant via the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency for each country.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the Department's aims, objectives and activities in Latin America. [190304]

DFID recently finalised its Regional Assistance Plan for Latin America 2004–2007, which lays out our strategy for DFID's bilateral programme in the region. Its goal is to reduce poverty and inequality in the region, by enhancing the impact of international community support for poverty reduction, focusing on the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank.

DFID will work to improve the effectiveness of the contributions the IDB and World Bank make in creating economic opportunities for poor people and in making public services and political systems accountable and responsible to poor people. We will do so through a combination of direct support for the IDB and World Bank and working with other organisations in the region.

In addition, DFID will help to improve the coherence of donor support for governments' poverty reduction strategies and will also contribute to lesson sharing on key global policy issues,-particularly trade policies that better reflect the impact of trade on poverty and inequality, and improved quality and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.

DFID will retain a bilateral programme in Nicaragua to reflect its low-income status and vulnerability. British non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be important partners in achieving our goal. An additional £7 million a year will be provided to NGOs with Partnership Programme Agreements with DFID for their work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Regional Assistance Plan will be formally launched later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the reports on audits of sole-sourced contracts that have already been undertaken by various US agencies requested by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board have been handed over; and if he will make a statement. [190231]

The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) has requested copies of reports issued by the US Defence Contract Audit Agency on its audits of contracts for work in Iraq that included funding from the Development Fund for Iraq as well as US appropriated funds. I understand that, because the reports contain proprietary contractor commercial or financial information, including pricing data, the US Government are barred by US law from releasing this information without the permission of the company involved. I also understand that the US Government are working to resolve this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which services within his Department will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review. [189637]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1659W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy. [188691]

The Scotland Office is committed to the recycling policy and targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The precise information requested is not available; but a large majority of the waste paper and card produced by the Scotland Office is already consigned to re-cycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the change of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to a statutory trading fund. [189786]

The establishment of the Trading Fund, preceded by the pilot next year, should enable ECGD to take a more expansive approach to cover and an improved service to customers. There will be a parallel commitment to reduce premiums by up to £5 million per annum on cases where ECGD is currently charging above the internationally agreed minimum benchmark.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the likely volume of new business from the establishment of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (a) Pilot Trading Fund in April 2005 and (b) Statutory Trading Fund in April 2007. [189787]

ECGD's new business in the last two financial years amounted to £3.5 billion (2002–03) and £2.99 billion (2003–04). When making her statement of 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 22WS, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry confirmed her commitment to the introduction of a Trading Fund with a capital framework designed to accommodate both business growth and risk volatility. The Chief Executive is analysing possible future business volumes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department. [189595]

The Department of Trade and Industry currently employs 69 (full-time equivalent) ICT specialists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of converting the toll system on the Humber Bridge so that tolls can be mainly collected automatically without the need for employing attendants. [189783]

The Secretary of State has made no such estimate. The Humber Bridge is not part of the trunk road network and is, therefore, not the direct responsibility of the Secretary of State. The financing and operation of the Bridge is primarily a matter for the board of local authorities who manage the bridge, the Humber Bridge Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of employing persons to collect toll money on the Humber Bridge in each of the past four years for which figures are available. [189784]

The Department for Transport does not hold such information centrally. The Humber Bridge is not part of the trunk road network and is, therefore, not the direct responsibility of the Secretary of State. The financing and operation of the bridge is primarily a matter for the Humber Bridge Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths in road traffic accidents there were in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) 2003. [189939]

The numbers of deaths in road traffic accidents are shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Lisbon Agenda will be one of the priorities of the British presidency of the EU. [190330]

Yes it will be. Our overriding presidency priority will be to take forward the EU policy agenda in an efficient, effective and impartial way, with a strong emphasis on the agenda we inherit from preceding presidencies.

Delivering sustainable, long-term improvements to Europe's growth and employment is of course a major task for the EU and a priority for our presidency and the new Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on relations between the UK and North Korea of establishing diplomatic missions in the capitals of each country. [190331]

The establishment of embassies in London and Pyongyang has provided an effective and regular channel of communication between our respective governments. This, together with my own visit to Pyongyang last month, has enabled us to make clear our views on issues of international concern, such as North Korea's nuclear programmes and human rights record. We will continue to encourage the North Koreans to engage fully on these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with North Korea on nuclear policy. [190338]

I visited North Korea from 11 to 14 September. North Korea's nuclear policy was one of the issues which I raised during my visit.

I made a written statement to the House on my discussions in North Korea on 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 186–88WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. [190326]

The Government assesses that North Korea has sufficient fissile material for a small number of nuclear weapons, and the technical capability to produce them. North Korea has also confirmed that it has completed the reprocessing of some 8,000 spent fuel rods, something about which we, and the international community, are very concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to (a) monitor and (b) assess the presidential elections in Afghanistan. [190333]

The UK provided four UK nationals to the OSCE Election Support Team, plus funding of £140,000. We contributed £50,000 to the "Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan", which fielded some (1,700) local Afghan monitors; and £25,000 to the "Asia Network for Free Elections" to monitor voting by Afghan refugees in Iran. British embassy staff observed in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

We shall assess the results with our international partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on women's rights and dowry payments in Afghanistan. [189884]

Women's rights have improved dramatically since the fall of the Taliban, with access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities that would have been unthinkable under the Taliban regime. Just under 2 million girls have returned to school and one-third of Afghanistan's 70,000 teachers are now women. Women's rights are protected by the new constitution, which also reserves a proportion of seats in Parliament for women candidates. Women have registered in large numbers to vote for the upcoming elections: over 40 per cent. of the 10.5 million Afghans registered.

Despite these improvements many challenges still remain. Women suffer disproportionately from violence in Afghan society. Women's ability to exercise their rights also remains heavily constrained in some areas, particularly rural areas in the south and south-east. The UK is committed to working with the Afghan Government and their international partners to improve women's ability to exercise their rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development have agreed a comprehensive Gender Strategy for 2004–05, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Dowry payments are a traditional part of Afghan marriage ceremonies, as in many other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit St. Helena to discuss its economy. [190334]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to visit St. Helena.

However, Ministers take every opportunity to meet with councillors from St. Helena when they visit the UK, during which we discuss a whole range of issues. My most recent meeting with councillors was last month in the margins of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the situation in Darfur. [190335]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy.

We remain very concerned about the situation in Darfur. Despite some progress on the humanitarian side, ceasefire violations by rebel and government forces continue. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed these issues last week with the Sudanese President, who agreed to a five-point action plan. The Sudanese will be judged not by their words, but by their actions over the coming weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, columns 1551–52W, what evidence the Government would need in order to determine that the atrocities carried out in Darfur constituted genocide; and if he will set out the direct consequences of defining a situation as genocide. [189796]

As called for in Security Council Resolution 1564, the Secretary-General has established an International Commission of Inquiry to determine whether or not acts of genocide have occurred and to identify the perpetrators. He has asked the Commission to report within three months. Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group". Under this convention, the State Parties undertake to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinians who have been separated from (a) their farmland and (b) their place of work by the Israel Wall impinging into Palestinian territory. [190336]

We estimate that approximately 240,000 Palestinians (including 220,000 in east Jerusalem) live on the Israeli side of the barrier constructed so far, and so are potentially cut off from their places of work, schools and families. About 94,000 more may have been separated from their farmland.¹

As a result of the 30 June Israeli High Court ruling, the Israeli Government is revising the route of the barrier.

¹ These figures are based on recent Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department and OCHA (United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of (a) India and (b) Pakistan on Kashmir. [190337]

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary discussed India-Pakistan relations with their Indian counterparts during Prime Minister Singh's visit to London on 20 September. The Foreign Secretary met his Pakistan counterpart on 23 September during the UN General Assembly. We conveyed to both Governments our warm support for the current dialogue process, and urged them to continue to press forward to resolve all their outstanding differences, including over Kashmir.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has engaged in with the Government of Brazil regarding computer hacking. [189883]

We are in close contact with the Brazilian Government on a number of organised crime issues including hacking and other hi-tech crime. In mid-September, the head of the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU), and representatives from the British embassy attended the first International Conference on Cyber Crime Investigations in Brasilia. We hope that the Brazilian Federal Police will also attend the NHTCU's E-crime Congress to be held in the UK in April 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 13 September 2004, Official Report, column 1450W, if he will specify the year of the dates given; which Government Ministers were informed; what communications there were between the Foreign Office and the Prime Minister's Office; and when these communications took place. [190073]

The year referred to was 2004. The Ministers referred to were my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and me. The communications between our respective offices took place in June 2004. Information relating to internal discussion and advice is exempt from disclosure under exemption 2 of Part 2 the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to consult Chagos Islanders on compensation for loss of livelihood. [190332]

As the hon. Member for Islington, North knows, the High Court judgment of 9 October 2003 established that the Government have no legal obligation to pay any further compensation beyond what has already been provided. This was confirmed by the Court of Appeal on 22 July 2004. Consequently, while I have made it clear that I am prepared to meet Chagossian representatives, I have no plans to consult them on compensation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government are making to the United States Administration to encourage its engagement with international efforts to combat global warming. [190325]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Dr. Turner).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of Hurricane Ivan on (a) Grenada, (b) Jamaica and (c) Cuba giving (i) the estimated number of (A) fatalities and (B) serious injuries and (ii) the levels of homelessness in each case; and what help was forthcoming in each case. [189905]

Sadly, Hurricane Ivan has had a devastating effect on Grenada. The latest figures we have for deaths and injuries are 39 dead and 353 treated for injuries. Royal Navy medical staff were on the ground at the general hospital on the morning after the hurricane. It is estimated that some 90 per cent. of the housing stock was damaged.

For UK assistance to Grenada I refer my hon. Friend to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) made to the House on 14 September 2004, Official Report, columns 1125–27, which was updated on 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 169–72WS. A further written statement, updating the House on UK assistance following Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne was issued today.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has appointed my noble Friend the Baroness Howells of St. David's as his personal envoy to Grenada. She travelled to Barbados and Grenada from 21 to 24 September with representatives of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to see the situation at first hand.

In Jamaica the impact was, fortunately, not as severe as first feared, although tragically 17 people have reportedly lost their lives. We do not have any details of serious injuries but the number of people directly and significantly affected by the hurricane is thought to be around 25,000 people. It is believed some 5,000 were made homeless. The Jamaica Red Cross estimates that approximately 25,000 people have suffered enough damage to their homes to require external assistance to start their own recovery. DFID have allocated £600,000 to the Jamaican humanitarian response.

The impact from Hurricane Ivan on Cuba was far less than originally feared as the eye of the storm missed the mainland. There were no reported fatalities, but according to the UN 8,000 people were left homeless. Reports are still being gathered from the affected areas, and once these are completed we will consider what support is needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports of looting and lawlessness were reported in (a) Grenada, (b) Jamaica and (c) Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. [189906]

In the days following Hurricane Ivan there were reports of looting in and around the capital of Grenada. St. George's. Troops from other Caribbean countries were sent to Grenada to help re-establish control and enforce a curfew. They arrived the second day after the hurricane. The Government of Grenada says the situation is now generally calm.

As the storm approached Jamaica, the Prime Minister, P J Patterson declared a state of public emergency. This can last up to a maximum of 30 days unless Parliament extends it. The stated reason was prior knowledge of planned looting. Several people were apparently arrested. There were reports of looting in various inner city areas and two police officers were shot and wounded. The Jamaican Security forces were on duty throughout and kept the situation generally under control.

Fortunately the eye of the storm missed the Cuban mainland and there was far less damage than expected. There were no reports of looting or lawlessness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the ability of the High Commission in Grenada to respond to the level of need in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan for (a) British citizens, (b) Grenadian nationals and (c) others. [189907]

At the time of the hurricane there was one UK-based member of staff in Grenada and two locally-engaged staff. Royal Navy personnel were on hand to assist as soon as the hurricane passed and we reinforced the office as soon as was possible with four staff from Bridgetown. The office opened as soon as it was possible for staff to reach it. Two staff were also sent from London to assist.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane there was no telephone service and many roads were blocked. High Commission staff moved from hotel to hotel to make contact with tour operators and British and EU tourists and helped make arrangements for them to leave the island. Staff took messages for relatives of a number of British, Grenadian and other foreign nationals in the UK and elsewhere.

Over the weekend following the hurricane we helped over 400 British, EU and Commonwealth nationals leave Grenada on a variety of unscheduled flights including one we chartered.

Our consular responsibility was to British nationals, including dual nationals and EU nationals in the first instance. Inquiring Grenadian nationals were given advice on travel and immigration regulations in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of remarks by the UN Secretary-General's former personal envoy to the Western Sahara on the policy of Morocco regarding a settlement in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on progress towards a settlement. [190003]

James Baker the former personal envoy to Western Sahara of the UN Secretary-General, gave an extensive interview regarding the Western Sahara on American television on 19 August. A transcript can be found on the internet at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/sahara/transcript.html. The Polisario have quoted from this interview in a memorandum circulated to United Nations member States.

The United Kingdom continues to seek a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute which provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination. We believe UN efforts to find a solution to the dispute should be maintained and we will continue to support those.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on border traffic between Turkey and Iraq. [189369]

[holding answer of 11 October 2004]: There have been severe delays to traffic crossing the Habur gate between Turkey and Iraq. I discussed this with both Turkish and Iraqi governments when I visited last week and encouraged them to find a solution. Discussions are continuing, including consideration of a possible second border crossing point. Tailbacks on the Turkish side of the Habur crossing are 40–50km long. It can take two weeks for a truck to get through.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1548W, how the money is to be spent. [190232]

holding answer of 11 October 2004

The Department for International Development's (DFID) Political Participation Fund for Iraq; administered by the British Council is a £5 million programme over two years, designed to increase opportunities for political representation and participation by all Iraqi citizens, particularly women. Since early September. £145,000 has been allocated to provide support to Iraqi national women's organisations. This will help them to prepare for the elections by delivering civic education and information to women voters, working with potential candidates and monitoring women's participation in the political process. DFID and the British Council, responsible for managing the Fund, are looking at further opportunities to support women's participation in the political process, both before and after the forthcoming elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the public inquiry into the Draft Ards and Down Area Plan will begin. [190175]

The Planning Appeals Commission sets the date for the commencement of the Public Inquiry. A start date has not been set at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts the Department of Environment has made to resolve the objections received in response to the publication of the Draft Ards and Down Area Plan; and how many of those objections were resolved by the Department. [190176]

The Department of the Environment received 2369 objections to the draft Ards and Down Area Plan. A number of the objections received relate to multiple issues. Full consideration has been given to all objections and work is now nearing completion on the preparation of the Department's rebuttal statements.

While the Department may see merit in all or part of an issue raised in a number of the objections, it is not possible to resolve objections at this stage. All objections have been put on public display and can be subject to a counter objection up to the date of the public inquiry. The rebuttal statements, which set out the Department's view on each individual objection, will be presented at the public inquiry which provides the mechanism for the issues to be fully considered.

It is therefore not possible to confirm at this stage the number of objections that may be resolved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the scope of asbestos industrial injury benefit to include family members of asbestosis sufferers. [189678]

The statutory provisions of the Industrial Injuries Scheme provide benefit to employed earners due to an illness or injury due to their occupation. There are no plans to extend the scope of the Industrial Injuries Scheme to family members of asbestosis sufferers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs were incurred by each of the three departments involved in establishing the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership. [189674]

NIBEP was established by the Training and Employment Agency (now the Department for Employment and Learning) and the Department of Education jointly in 1995, in the form of an unincorporated association within Business in the Community. In June 2000 it was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and moved to its own premises. Any costs incurred in respect of this move were offset by moneys transferred from Business in the Community to NIBEP at the point where responsibility transferred from one to the other. The staffing of NIBEP when it was established in 1995 consisted of one secondment from the business sector (ie at no cost to the public purse). The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry has incurred no costs in respect of NIBEP at any time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of running the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership was in each of the last three years; and what the estimated cost of closing it is. [189675]

The information requested is as follows:

1 April 2004 to 31 August 2004 only.⁽⁹⁾

Note:

These do not include direct programme expenditure.

Estimated cost of closing NIBEP

£18,000+expenses (but will be subject to issues arising during the course of the liquidation).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which (a) Department and (b) organisation will be responsible for carrying out the work of the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership. [189700]

Future arrangements for business-education activities in support of education for employability in the curriculum are under consideration jointly by the Departments of Education, Employment and Learning and Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

As an interim measure the major bodies providing business-education activities and programmes that are currently funded through NIBEP will continue to be funded for the remainder of the 2004–05 financial year until substantive arrangements are put in place for the future. This is to be administered by the three Departments with Department of Education in the lead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources are provided to support cancer patients making the choice to die at home. [189966]

Patients with a cancer diagnosis making the choice to die at home are facilitated through primary, community and acute services. Specific services developed within the boards in the last number of years include provision of palliative care drug boxes for out of hours use by GPs and other primary health care professionals, developing the district nursing twilight services, provision of night nursing services in partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care and complementary and counselling therapies.

A Regional Cancer Services Framework is currently being developed to make recommendations for the future delivery of cancer services in Northern Ireland over the next 20 years. As part of its work, the framework will be considering the future development of palliative care services in the home. The framework is expected to be completed by 31 December 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has had with Castlereagh College on training requirements for future industrial development in the Castlereagh area. [189659]

Neither the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, nor Invest NI, have had any direct discussions with Castlereagh College. Invest NTs Accelerating Entrepreneurship Strategy (AES) seeks to actively embed entrepreneurship throughout Northern Ireland's education and training systems. Aspects of AES are undertaken in close liaison with the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges, which represents the sixteen Further Education colleges in NI, including Castlereagh.

Through its Business Improvement Services function, Invest NI also provides specific company based training and development programmes linked directly to the needs of local companies. These programmes can be delivered using internal or external trainers as appropriate, with each client company being responsible for the selection of any external providers. Such training is entirely tailored to the needs of the company thus offering a specific focus on the local economic development needs of the area in which it is based.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Regional Development's review of its policy on signing of churches will be carried out; and if he will make a statement. [189661]

The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this Question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mrs. Iris Robinson, dated 22 September 2004

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the review of direction signing to churches. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.

I can confirm that the work on the policy review of the signing of churches and other privately operated premises is on-going and it is expected to be complete by the end of November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many divisional planning managers within the Department of the Environment have been granted permission to become private sector planning consultants in the last five years. [189881]

No current Divisional Planning Manager has been given permission to become a private sector planning consultant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff days have been lost as a result of industrial action in each Department, agency and non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland since the start of the current industrial action by civil servants. [188248]

Since the start of the current industrial action by civil servants up to 3 September 2004, 54,737 staff days have been lost in Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland. A breakdown of the figures for each Department, agency and non-departmental public body is as follows.