To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints from former staff of his Department employed by TNT have been raised with regard to the new process for handling departmental records and their security. [173660]

The Ministry of Defence Contract Management Team (CMT) has received a very small number of verbal criticisms concerning TNT's new processes for handling departmental records and their security from former MOD staff now employed by TNT. To facilitate investigation, written confirmation of the complaints was requested. None has yet been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he expects Galileo to play in providing the Future Rapid Effects System requirements with optimum battlespace awareness. [190058]

Galileo is intended to be a civilian system under civil control. The Department expects the GPS military code to continue to meet defence requirements for a robust, secure satellite navigation system. Accordingly, there are no plans for the use of Galileo by the MOD's Future Rapid Effects System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department. [189582]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what screening tests have been established for (a) British troops, (b) British medical auxiliaries and (c) Iraqi civilians to assess the degree of inhalation and ingestion of depleted uranium dust during the military action in Iraq in (i) the Gulf war in 1991 and (ii) Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003; what resources have been committed to this testing; and if he will make a statement. [190206]

On 22 September 2004, the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) announced the establishment of a retrospective testing programme for the analysis of uranium isotopes in urine and, if Depleted Uranium (DU) is found to be present, how much. The test is available free of charge to eligible individuals, including medical staff, who served in the Gulf area between 1 August 1990 and 31 July 1991 or in the former Republic of Yugoslavia on or after 5 August 1994. The total cost of the testing programme will depend on demand but is expected to be in the order of £1 million.

This retrospective test is entirely separate from MOD's own Biological Monitoring policy, under which all UK military personnel returning from theatres where DU munitions have been used—including Operation Telic—are offered a test for uranium in their urine. So far over 350 individuals have taken up this offer and have been tested. Of those, only a small number have been found to be excreting DU in their urine. These are personnel who were injured in accidental attacks by friendly forces and have embedded shrapnel. The cost to date of this programme is estimated to be £250,000. There will be a further annual staff cost of £25,000 for the duration of the project.

Assessing the degree of inhalation and ingestion of DU dust arising from the military action in Iraq among Iraqi civilians is a matter for the Iraqi Interim Government. Nevertheless, the MOD would offer advice if requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total amount was paid in each of the past three years to farmers and other landowners for the use of their land by his Department. [190278]

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the total amount paid by the Ministry of Defence to farmers and other landowners for the use of their land in respect of military training. In the last three years this has amounted to approximately £1.7 million per annum. This figure includes the costs of: the leasing of land outside of Army Training Estate (ATE) boundaries; the long term leasing of land within ATE boundaries; the purchasing of necessary Commoners Rights; and the use of other facilities such as safety buoys and electric/water cables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which armed forces personnel have attended as part of their duties promotional events for UK military equipment sales in each year since 2000–01. [184731]

Military personnel attend a wide range of promotional events, as required as part of their duties. Such events may include UK and overseas defence exhibitions as well as equipment demonstrations and displays. Information concerning the attendance of military personnel at promotional events is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many garments have been delivered for the Op-telic Tender DC2 ESL/3122. [190858]

Deliveries under this contract are due to be completed by January 2005 and the supplier has completed the first batch of 2,500 garments. We expect to receive samples of this batch before the first delivery in early November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of whether the fabric supplied for the Op-telic tender DC2 ESL/3122 meets the specification. [190859]

The supplier for this contract has an obligation to deliver items which meet our specification. The Ministry of Defence quality surveillance methods include sample testing to ensure fabric is compliant. There are no concerns about the fabric used. Samples provided to date have met our specification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) why the hon. Member for Moray was not informed of the impending announcement concerning the airfield review and RAF Kinloss prior to the release of a press statement; [191359]

(2) which media were informed, and when, about an impending announcement concerning the airfield review and RAF Kinloss prior to the letter sent to the honourable Member for Moray on 12 October. [191358]

The Defence Airfield Review was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 348. I sent letters to a number of hon. Members early on 12 October, including the hon. Member for Moray, detailing how we would be conducting the review with regard to the airfields in their constituencies. Hon. Members were therefore notified before any statement to the press, the exception being the hon. Member for Moray whose published contact details were incorrect. That led to him being notified later than other hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of adult volunteers to the Sea Cadet Corps. [191661]

Statistics for the Sea Cadet Corps are compiled once a year. As at 31 March 2004 there were 4,307 adult volunteers to the Sea Cadet Corps, comprising uniformed and non-uniformed instructors and chaplains, all of whom are civilians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send HMS Victorious to a location other than Plymouth for its refit; and if he will make a statement. [190189]

There are no plans to refit HMS Victorious at a location other than Plymouth. It is our policy to refit warships in the United Kingdom and Devonport Dockyard has the only facilities capable of refitting and refuelling RN nuclear-powered submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the policy of the National Lottery towards making grants conditional upon the procurement of only certified timber. [190750]

Lottery distributors are, and are intended to be, independent of Government, but they are obliged to take into account policy directions from the Secretary of State. These directions set out the framework for the wider aims of Lottery funding, and include the need for the distributing bodies to further the objectives of sustainable development when awarding Lottery grants. The Lottery distributing bodies are strongly committed to sustainable development, including the procurement of timber from legal and sustainable sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to support the Renaissance in the Regions programme in Yorkshire. [190450]

The 2004 Spending Review White Paper sets out the intention of the Department to extend Renaissance in the Regions to all nine regional hubs. We face a number of difficult choices and competing priorities in allocating funding from the spending review but will do all we can to take the Renaissance initiative forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding from the Renaissance in the Regions programme (a) has been allocated and (b) will be allocated to Yorkshire. [190451]

The total allocations to the Yorkshire Regional Museum Hub under Spending Review 2002 are as follows:

Allocations following the 2004 Spending Review will be made as soon as possible.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls were received in Buckinghamshire in each year since 2001. [191054]

The number of fire false alarm calls attended by the Buckinghamshire fire and rescue service is as follows:

Note:

2002 and 2003 figures include estimates for fire false alarms not recorded during periods of industrial action.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths in dwellings in Buckinghamshire there were in each year since 2001. [191053]

The number of deaths reported in dwelling fires attended by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are as follows:

⁽¹⁾ Provisional figure.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on reduction of the neighbour nuisance caused by high hedges; and if he will make a statement. [191145]

The public consultation on implementing Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives local authorities the powers to deal with complaints about high hedges closed on 30 June. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now finalising Regulations and guidance and expects the system to be fully operational around the end of 2004.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will establish a programme to improve local parklands. [191455]

The Government have already established programmes for improving local parks and green spaces. These are set out in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's reports "Living Places—Cleaner, Safer, Greener" (ODPM 2002), and "Sustainable communities: building for the future" (ODPM 2003). The initiatives they contain are currently being implemented through the cross-government "Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities" programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding streams are available to local education authority schools (a) directly from government and (b) through local education authorities, which are not available to city technology colleges and city academies. [190909]

Schools maintained by local education authorities and city technology colleges and city academies are funded on similar terms on a like for like basis. However, the Standards Fund is used as a funding stream for schools maintained by local education authorities but not for schools of these types. However, the overall capital and revenue funding for city technology colleges and academies takes account of what comparable LEA schools would receive (including their Standards Fund allocations).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the UK's national income has been spent on education in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. [190665]

The percentage of the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on education since 1997 is as follows:

Note:

The figures for 2003–04 are based on estimated outturn and those for 2004–05 onwards are based on expenditure plans announced in the 2004 Budget Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that information about endometriosis is routinely included in personal, social and health education in secondary schools. [190462]

holding answer 13 October 2004

In Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons pupils are taught about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, how to seek professional advice on health related issues confidently, and ways of finding sources of help and information. However, we have no plans to include endometriosis routinely in PSHE lessons in secondary schools, although the condition might be raised in class discussions.

In statutory Science lessons, at Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14) pupils are taught about the human reproductive system and the menstrual cycle. At Key Stage 4 (ages 14–16) pupils learn about ways in which hormonal control occurs, including the effects of sex hormones. This would include conditions such as endometriosis which can affect fertility and the reproductive system in general.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) what the amount is (a) in total and (b) per pupil spent on information and communication technology in maintained schools since 2001–02, broken down by local education authority in England; [189847]

(2) what the amount is (a) in total and (b) per pupil spent on information and communication technology in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in England since 2001–02. [189848]

The information requested is not available centrally. Figures for England, derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the table. Figures at sub-national level are not available as the sample was not large enough to provide reliable estimates.

The latest information on total ICT expenditure and expenditure per pupil in maintained schools was published in Statistical Bulletin 'Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2003', which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway.

For 2003–04, provisional estimates on ICT expenditure per school were published in a Statistical First Release (27/2004) on 29 July, a copy of which is also available on the Department's website. For the purposes of completeness, these figures are also shown in the table.

Expenditure on information and communications technology in maintained primary, secondary and special schools, England—as at 31 March (financial year end)

n/a = Data is not currently available.

⁽²⁾ The average expenditure for schools in 2003 may not be comparable to other figures in the time series due to a change in the guidance notes for the survey.

⁽³⁾ Headcount of pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 153–54WS, on Resources for Children and Learners what proportion of the extra funding announced for the next spending review period has been allocated to (a) early years, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools, (d) school sixth forms, (e) further education and (f) higher education. [191816]

The written statement I gave to the House on 16 September gave high level allocations across my Department's responsibilities. There are still some further considerations required at individual programme level before all allocations are finalised. Once these considerations are concluded we will present the detailed allocations to Parliament in the Departmental Annual Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which other countries cases of BSE have been verified; and how many cases were reported (a) in the EU and (b) in the USA between 2000 and 2004. [189628]

The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) website shows that the following countries have verified cases of BSE which have been reported:

Austria

Belgium

Canada

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

(a) The number of cases of BSE reported in the EU between 2000 and 2004 was 8,319 (the data for 2004 is available only up to July for a few countries); (b) while one case of BSE was diagnosed in the USA in 2003 it was confirmed as having been imported from Canada.

BSE statistics worldwide can be found on the OIE website address at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en esbmonde.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the salaries of the Chief Executive of each agency which falls under her Department. [189614]

Salaries of Defra's agency Chief Executives are published in each agency's annual report and accounts, which are presented to Parliament each year and placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on recent trends in farm incomes in the Buckingham constituency. [189856]

Data on farm incomes at constituency level are not available at constituency level. Figures for the Government Office Region for the South East (including London) are shown in the table. Information on farm incomes for 2003–04 will be published in early December.

Net farm incomes for farms greater than eight ESU insouth-east GOR (incl. London)

Source:

Farm Business Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the start date is for single farm payments. [190374]

The Single Payment Scheme will start on 1 January 2005. The European Regulations require 2005 payments to be made between 1 December 2005 and 30 June 2006. Our objective is to make payments as promptly as possible within that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future management of the (a) six and (b) 12-mile fishing zones around the UK coast; and whether regulation will impact upon UK and non-UK vessels uniformly. [190105]

Under the CFP only UK vessels can fish within six miles of our coast and only vessels with historic rights can fish in the six to 12 mile zone. The reformed CFP enables member states to take conservation measures applying to all vessels. We are currently considering the future of inshore fisheries management as part of the response to the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report "Net Benefits: A Sustainable and Profitable Future to UK Fishing".

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether footage of the video taken by Northumberland Trading Standards on 23 February 2001 of the conditions on Burnside Farm was submitted to the Anderson Lessons Learned Inquiry. [190218]

Defra has no record of the video, taken by an official of the Northumberland Trading Standards Department, of the conditions at Burnside Farm, run by Mr. Bobby Waugh, being submitted to the Anderson Lessons Learned Inquiry. The video was shown at Mr. Waugh's trial for breach of his waste food feeding licence which was held in May 2002.

The Anderson Inquiry was given and published a full investigation of the causes of the outbreaks of foot and mouth in 2001 and also saw records of the State Veterinary Service visits to the farm. The video contains no new information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department. [189584]

The situation in Defra has changed recently and it may assist if I explain the background. A review of the Better Quality Services Programme for Defra IT was undertaken in 2001. This review concluded that Defra IT services should be outsourced, with some functions and strategic control remaining in Defra. IBM has been selected to run IT Services for Defra and the service commenced on 1 October 2004. Staff undertaking roles that were within the scope of the outsource transferred to IBM under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

Ten full-time ICT specialists remain with the Department in the Intelligent Customer Function while 255 full-time ICT specialists were categorised as being in scope for outsourcing and are now employed by IBM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the saving would be of moving the over-30 month scheme to (a) over 36 months and (b) over 48 months. [189619]

The approximate savings that would have been made from the year commencing 1 July 2003 of moving the over-30 month scheme to(a) over 36 months and (b) over 48 months are set out in the following table:

⁽⁴⁾ Based on current unit costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to sign the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals; and if she will make a statement. [190461]

The Government plans to review the UK's position on signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Pet Animals once the Animal Welfare Bill is enacted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many registered holdings there are for European subsidy purposes; how many there were in 1994; and if she will make a statement. [188991]

The number of holdings that registered/submitted applications for European subsidy purposes in 2004 and 1994, under the Integrated Administration and Control System are set out in the following table.

The figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were provided by their respective devolved assemblies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors underlay the decision to set the salary for the Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency at its present level. [189618]

The Rural Payments Agency brought together functions from the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's regional centres and the former Intervention Board. The purpose was to streamline, modernise and reduce the costs of administering Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes, while delivering a high-quality service to farmers and traders. This new agency required a leader with a successful track record of delivering radical change in a substantial delivery organisation and it demanded someone who could sustain a high level of performance. The Chief Executive post was therefore advertised in 2000 as an Open Competition. Since then there has been the additional challenge of delivering successful implementation of CAP reform. The external market and the high expectations of the post holder were factors in determining the salary. The salaries of chief executives are reported to Parliament in the usual way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will liaise with other Departments to ensure that their catering policies source sea bass from hand line fisheries. [188137]

Defra is compiling a catering services procurement toolkit that will include guidance on the relevance of fish sources to the Government's sustainable development objectives for food. This guidance will be published on Defra's website and central Departments will be notified directly.

The current draft does not refer to individual species of fish and nor does it suggest preferred catch methods but it does suggest that the method of catch should be labelled so that paying customers can make an informed choice when choosing dishes of food.

Defra supports the sourcing of sea bass from responsibly managed fisheries. Hand lining is a relatively low impact method of fishing and so can help fisheries to remain sustainable. Advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas on sea bass has been that the level of exploitation of the stock appeared to be sustainable. New advice is due shortly which we will be considering carefully to ensure that this stock remains sustainably exploited. There are also currently no restrictions at a UK or community level on the method of fishing that can be used to target bass.

In these circumstances I consider it would be inappropriate to advise Departments to encourage their caterers to restrict the source of bass they purchase to hand line fisheries only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with sugar beet farmers from the Vale of York on the reform of the EU Sugar regime. [190373]

Ministers and officials frequently meet farming organisations, including the National Farmers Union, to discuss a range of topical subjects including sugar reform. The current chairman of the NFU Sugar Board is a beet farmer from the Vale of York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of sugar beet farming in (a) the Vale of York and (b) England. [190379]

The Government have consistently pressed for early and radical reform of the EU sugar regime, which is now seriously out of line with the decoupled, market-based approach already adopted for virtually all of the rest of the Common Agricultural Policy. The current regime also gives rise to major distortions in international trade, some of which are under active challenge in the WTO.

Negotiations are beginning in Brussels on a European Commission approach to reform which would mark a step change in the operation of the regime, bringing prices significantly closer to world levels and moving towards a more liberalised and competitive system based on comparative advantage rather than historic production and national self-sufficiency. We have welcomed this as an important step on the right direction.

We are in close touch with British Sugar, the National Farmers Union and a wide range of interests, both in the UK and elsewhere, who will be affected. The consultation exercise which we carried out on the Commission's original options paper last year will be followed by a further consultation once formal legislative proposals are tabled. We will also be providing Parliament with a full Regulatory Impact Assessment as soon as the detail is clearer. In addition we will shortly be publishing independent research on the economic, social and environmental implications in the UK of sugar reform. This should help to make clearer the likely impacts on sugar beet farming in the United Kingdom, as well as putting the reform into the wider context of decoupled support for agriculture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions on the Supermarkets Code of Practice she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (b) farming organisations, (c) supermarkets, (d) retailer representatives and (e) other relevant bodies. [190124]

Responsibility for the Code of Practice rests with the Office of Fair Trading. However, as Defra is the sponsor Department for the farming and food industries, the subject of the Code will have arisen in the course of discussions and correspondence between Defra and representatives of various bodies, including farming and retail organisations. We have also discussed the Code with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 21 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Farag Elkailani. [189707]

I replied to my right hon. Friend on 15 September 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) nature and (b) values are of his Department's consultancy contracts for, and in relation to, the identity card scheme. [188703]

There is one current Home Office consultancy contract in relation to the identity card scheme. PA Consulting Group were engaged in May 2004 as the Home Office's development partner providing resources in support of programme development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research into the effects of legislation in Denmark which require that applicants and sponsors, for the purpose of marriage, from outside the EU must be aged over 24 years. [189391]

No. We are aware of the Danish requirement and we will be looking at reports on the effectiveness of this measure as a means of preventing marriage abuse. We are also keeping our own marriage provisions—including the extension of the probationary period, and the requirement for foreign nationals to give notice of their marriage at certain designated register offices under review and will make any changes to the Rules that we consider necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the EU White Paper, "New Frontier for an Expanding Union" published in June; [190054]

(2) if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the meeting of the Council of the European Union's politico-military group on 8 September. [190075]

The Galileo satellite navigation system is being developed by the European Union and the European Space Agency as a civil project for transport and other non-military applications. It has been stated by successive Transport Councils that Galileo is a civil programme under civil control. A Joint Action of the Council has been agreed which enables referral of aspects of the Galileo programme that relate to the security of the European Union or its member states to an appropriate formulation of Council, i.e. Pillar II, where unanimity applies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with European Union institutions about the standardisation of driving licences across the EU. [190806]

The European Commission published a proposal for a Third Directive on driving licensing on 5 December 2003. The Directive aims to promote free movement of citizens, improve road safety and increase the security of the driving licence system. My officials consulted fully and widely on these proposals during spring 2004. After detailed discussions in the Council Working Group, at which the European Commission was present, on 7 October the Transport Council reached a general approach on the Directive, which meets most of the Government's key objectives. The European Parliament is expected to complete its First Reading of the proposal in January 2005. I shall be writing shortly to the Chairmen of the Lords and Commons European Scrutiny Committees to bring them up to date on progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers are vested in (a) local authorities and (b) the police to prevent motorised vehicles from blocking pedestrian walkways. [190591]

Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to obstruct a highway without lawful authority. The pedestrian footway is part of a highway. The police may issue a fixed penalty notice for such obstruction. However, in London, by virtue of section 8 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003, authorised officers of borough councils and Transport for London are also empowered to issue a fixed penalty notice for the offence of obstruction under section 137 of the 1980 Act.

Section 15 of the Greater London (General Powers) Act 1974 makes it an offence to park a vehicle on footways and grass verges in London. This offence has been decriminalised under section 76 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 and, unless parking on the pavement has been specifically allowed at a particular location, London borough council parking attendants may issue a penalty charge notice where a vehicle is found parked on a pedestrian footway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1150W, on BT, if she will make a statement on the progress of the review of the rating system; whether she has received its initial findings; and when she expects the report to be published. [190703]

The independent rates review recommended by the Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG) is currently at draft stage. The first draft was produced in the summer; a final draft is due at the end of October and it is expected that it will be presented to the Broadband Stakeholders Group in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors governed the date of publication on the departmental website of the report by Cambridge Econometrics consultants on "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity To 2010: Revised Projections". [190798]

Cambridge Econometrics' report titled "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity to 2010: Revised Projections" was completed on 6 November 2003 and made available on DTI's website on 12 November 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills to promote education in entrepreneurship in schools and colleges. [190837]

My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills during which they discuss a wide range of issues, including enterprise education and work-related learning, which is now a statutory requirement in English secondary schools.

In this context our two Departments have been working closely to ensure that all young people are provided with a wide range of high quality, relevant, structured experiences of work that will develop enterprise capability, innovation, creativity, risk management and risk-taking. This is necessary to prepare young people for the world of work and to equip them with the enterprise and employability skills to meet employer and workplace demands as well as the ability to start and successfully run their own businesses.

That is why she welcomed the recommendations made by Sir Howard Davies in his Review of the Economy and Enterprise Education and the commitment made in the 2002 Budget to ensure that from 2005 all year 10 pupils will have the opportunity to experience five days enterprise learning, helping to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes for enterprise capability, financial capability and economic and business understanding. The commitment also provides funding for Enterprise advisers to work with 1,000 secondary schools in deprived areas in order to give extra support to the enterprise education agenda.

Both DTI and DfES along with other government departments are supporting the UK's first Enterprise Week—Make Your Mark Campaign on 15–21 November 2004. It aims to inspire people in their teens and twenties to be enterprising, and to engage those who influence young people or provide services for them in a discussion about the importance of enterprise. Enterprise Week is co-ordinated by Enterprise Insight, which was founded by the UK's main business organisations working in partnership with leading enterprise development organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) representations she has received and (b) consultation has taken place with sub-post masters concerning the speed of the New Horizon computer system. [190285]

holding answer 13 October 2004

None. Issues relating to the post office network computer system are operational matters for the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Pembrokeshire since May 1997. [190899]

I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that data on post office closures by county or constituency is not available in the form requested, as the company does not require this data for operational purposes. However it has produced quarterly statistics on post office closures by Government region/country since March 2000 and the net closure figures for Wales are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1541W, on wind energy, what assessment she has made of the (a) impartiality and (b) objectivity of the study commissioned by the British Wind Energy Association. [189692]

None. Though similar studies, including the one by S.W. White and G.L. Kulcinski at the University of Wisconsin, and detailed within the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, 4th Report of Session 2003–2004, "Renewable Energy: Practicalities", show shorter payback periods for wind farms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 6–8WS, on the Women and Work Commission, what the proposed (a) resource budget and (b) departmental staff numbers to support the Women and Work Commission are; and if she will make a statement. [191855]

The Women and Work Commission is an ad hoc advisory body of unpaid Commissioners who will report within a year. Support for the Commission will come from existing DTI/Women and Equality Unit resources.

(a) The projected resource budget is £300,000 of which £150,000 is projected administration costs and 150,000 is programme budget.

(b) The WWC Secretariat consists of three dedicated full time equivalent posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average minimum income guarantee payment is to pensioners in East Lothian constituency. [190146]

The minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003. The average pension credit award in East Lothian at 31 August 2004 was £36.54.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of minimum income guarantee in East Lothian constituency at the last date on which it was paid. [190148]

As at 3 October 2003, there were 2,360 minimum income guarantee claimants in East Lothian parliamentary constituency. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee as at 6 October 2003.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit in East Lothian constituency. [190147]

Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for Pension Credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 households in Scotland, corresponding to approximately 450,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 2004–05. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in Scotland and East Lothian is given in the table.

Pension credit recipients, 31 August 2004

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five

2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters he has sent to occupational pension schemes in wind-up, in connection with his Financial Assistance Scheme, asking them to supply scheme data by 12 November; and if he will estimate the average cost to each scheme of providing the information requested. [190645]

Letters were sent to scheme trustees, administrators and actuaries through a number of professional bodies on behalf of the Department. The professional bodies who agreed to send these letters included the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority; the Association of Corporate Trustees; the Faculty and the Institute of Actuaries and the National Association of Pension Funds. They were advised to circulate the letter as widely as possible and it is also available on the Department's website.

The cost of providing the information requested will depend on the quality and availability of individual scheme records. The impact, if any, on scheme funds in providing this information, will depend on the extent to which those involved in administering the schemes are able to absorb any costs incurred rather than passing them on to scheme funds. The Government are still seeking industry contributions to the Financial Assistance Scheme and this is an opportunity for members of the pensions industry to provide one. We encouraged those involved to keep costs to a minimum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many over-75s are claiming the guarantee credit element of the pension credit. [190644]

As at August 2004, the number of customers aged 75 and over claiming the guarantee credit element of pension credit was 1,081,430.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what review of the application process for receipt of the pension credit has been undertaken since the scheme was introduced. [190370]

The application process for pension credit has been designed to be straightforward for pensioners and their family and friends, who may apply on their behalf. The pension credit application line (freephone 0800 99 1234), which is the main method of applying, is working well and at the end of August had taken around 4.48 million calls since it became operational on 7 April 2003. The Pension Service is able to offer alternative ways of applying to suit individual circumstances. Independent research, a summary of which was placed in the Library in January, found high levels of customer satisfaction with the application line and with the application process overall. We have made minor improvements to the application process in the light of experience and will continue to do so, although there are no current plans for a fundamental review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to announce the outcome of the consultation on his Department's plans to amend the Gift Aid rules on day memberships. [190550]

Representatives of heritage and conservation charities have been involved in discussions about possible changes to the Gift Aid rules. We are considering carefully the points they and others have raised, and we will consider changes as part of the normal Budget process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on using fiscal measures to encourage reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. [190551]

The Government believe that well-designed economic instruments, alongside other policies, can play an important role in reducing CO₂ emissions. A number of measures have been introduced to help achieve this, including the Climate Change Levy, Company Car Tax reform and Enhanced Capital Allowances for energy-saving equipment. The Government will continue to explore options for using cost-effective economic instruments, including fiscal measures, to reduce CO ₂ emissions, taking account of all social, economic and environmental objectives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on Government expenditure on science. [190553]

The Government regularly receives representation on science spending.

Most recently, in developing the "Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–2014", published in July, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Education and Skills and HM Treasury jointly undertook a wide-ranging consultation exercise, and received over 200 replies from individuals and organisations in academia, business, the charity sector, and from the regional and devolved Administrations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the current surplus in the National Insurance Fund. [190555]

The Government Actuary estimates that the surplus in the National Insurance Fund will be £29.6 billion for 2004–05.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that private pleasure craft will be able to use red diesel after 31 December 2006. [190556]

Use of red diesel, which has an effective duty rate of 4.42 pence per litre, is permitted in private pleasure craft in the UK under a derogation from the European Energy Products Directive. This derogation is due to expire at the end of 2006 and we will be discussing it with other member states closer to that date, in the light of the views of stakeholders, including boat owners.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the Belgian Finance Minister about Belgium's support for an international currency transaction tax. [190557]

The Chancellor recently met with a range of finance Ministers, including the Belgian Finance Minister, at the Annual Meetings at which there was a discussion regarding an international currency transaction tax. The Government are open to exploring the full range of options for financing for development, and welcomes the recent reports of the French-Brazilian-Spanish-Chilean-UN and Landau working groups. The UK Government will continue to explore international taxes as potential long-term sources of development finance, but in the short-term the IFF remains the only workable proposal on the table to generate the resources urgently needed to help meet the MDGs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on UK investment in tackling poverty in developing countries. [190558]

The Government are making a considerable and increasing investment in tackling poverty in developing countries. As announced in the 2004 Spending Review, the budget of the Department for International Development (DFID) will grow by an average of 9.2 per cent. a year in real terms over the three years of the Spending Review period, to more than £5.3 billion a year by 2007–08. Total UK official development assistance will reach nearly £6.5 billion a year by 2007–08. This is equal to 0.47 per cent. of Gross National Income (GNI) and represents a real terms increase in UK ODA of 140 per cent. since 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in progress towards the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. [190559]

HM Treasury works very closely with the Department for International Development towards our shared objective of making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We share a Public Service Agreement Target on progress for poor countries through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative and on ensuring that our international partners work effectively towards meeting the MDGs.

We have massively increased aid since 1997 towards meeting the MDGs. Through Spending Review 2004, total UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) will reach nearly £6.5 billion a year by 2007–08, which represents a 73 per cent. real times increase in total UK ODA since 2001, and a 140 per cent. real terms increase since 1997.

We have been at the forefront of calls for additional debt relief, including the Chancellor's recent announcement that the UK will provide our share of up to 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief for the world's poorest countries.

And because we know that on current trends we will not meet the MDGs in 2015, we are calling for an International Finance Facility that would provide the additional funding needed immediately to make progress towards the MDGs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the macro-economic implications of recent oil price fluctuations on the UK economy. [190560]

The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK and world economies in Pre-Budget Report 2004 as usual, taking into account all relevant factors and developments, including oil prices.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues regarding the (a) tax credit and (b) pension credit systems. [190561]

Tax credits have been hugely successful in their prime aims of tackling child poverty and making work pay.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for tax credits have been received but not yet processed, broken down by region. [190164]

It is not possible to break down the number of claims for new tax credits that have been received but not yet processed by region. Over 150,000 new claims were received during September.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much on average tax credits add to the income of a family with two children on a wage of (a) £10,000 and (b) £15,000 a year. [191226]

The figures requested are in the following table.

⁽⁵⁾ This Working Tax Credit award assumes that the families qualify for the premium available for working at least 30 hours a week.

These families may also qualify for up to £7,300 a year through the Childcare element of Working Tax Credit, which covers up to 70 per cent. of eligible childcare costs (subject to cost limits of £200 a week for families with two or more children).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many people in Yeovil constituency were (a) overpaid and (b) underpaid tax credits in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05 to date; and if he will make a statement; [191316]

(2) what his latest estimate is of the number of overpayments of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2003–04 and (iv) 2004–05 to date; and if he will make a statement; [191774]

(3) what his estimate is of the tax credit (a) underpayments and (b) overpayments for each year from 2001–02 to 2004–05; and what proportion of underpayments for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04 have now been paid in full to those entitled; [191778]

(4) what his latest estimate is of the total costs of (a) overpayments and (b) underpayments of tax credits for each year from 2001–02 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [191792]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Andrew Turner) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 81–82W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of working tax credit have been refunded for underpayments in the last 12 months and subsequently told that the underpayment recalculations were wrong. [189432]

6.1 million families are benefiting from one or both of the Child and Working Tax Credits. The treatment of overpayments arising from official error is described on page 8 of Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?". Figures for the number of Working Tax Credit recipients affected are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual revenue from capital gains tax if the exemption of owner occupied housing were removed. [191570]

The latest estimated costs of exempting gains arising on a disposal of a main or only residence were given in Chapter A of Budget 2004.

These costs are not the same as the yield from abolition of the relief, as consequential effects on the housing market would substantially reduce the yield. Reliable estimates of the yield from imposing capital gains tax at present rates on the disposal by individuals of their only or main residences are available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total number of jobs located in the City of Glasgow; and what percentage of the total number of jobs in Scotland this figure represents. [190996]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Marshall, dated 14 October 2004

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about jobs located in the City of Glasgow. (190996)

In 2002, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 385,000 employee jobs located in the unitary authority of the City of Glasgow. This represented 17 per cent. of all employee jobs in Scotland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Inland Revenue information on incapacity benefit indicates to recipients that if their benefit dates from before 12 April 1995 the payments are free of income tax. [190903]

The Inland Revenue's leaflet IR144 "Income Tax and Incapacity Benefit" printed in May 2002 makes clear that a claimant's local Benefit Office, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions, will advise if Incapacity Benefit is taxable or not. The SATax Return Guide refers to the tax treatment of Incapacity Benefit for those whose claim is for a period before 13 April 1995. It goes on to say that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will provide a form showing whether the benefit is taxable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made with the International Finance Facility. [190554]

Good progress has been made recently with the International Finance Facility. The World Bank's final paper on Aid Effectiveness and Financing Modalities found that the IFF was technically feasible and noted that the IFF was the most advanced proposal to frontline aid. Communiques from the meetings welcomed the Bank and Fund analysis of options to increase aid flows, such as the IFF, and looked forward to a further report on options to take these forward. Furthermore, all Nordic countries supported the IFF's potential role in providing additional finance for development. The IFF will be central to the UK Presidencies of the G7 and EU in 2005.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer from the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 17 June 2004, Official Report, column 895, on the International Finance Facility, if he will make a statement on the September reports by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund regarding the UK's proposal for the international finance facility. [190905]

Good progress was made on the International Finance Facility (IFF) at the Annual Meetings this year. The World Bank's final paper on Aid Effectiveness and Financing Modalities found that the IFF was technically feasible and noted that the IFF was the most advanced proposal to frontload aid. Communiqués from the meetings welcomed the Bank and Fund analysis of options to increase aid flows, using such mechanisms as the IFF, and looked forward to a further report on options to take these forward. The UK Government will be taking forward the proposal in 2005 when the IFF will be central to the UK Presidencies of the G7 and EU in 2005.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what the proposed functions of the Lorry Road-User Charge Management Authority are; [190646]

(2) what the proposed total costs are for setting up the Lorry Road-User Charge Management Authority in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2006–07 and (d) 2007–08. [190651]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 12 October 2004, Official Report, column 243W. HM Customs and Excise's plans for the Lorry Road-User Charge (LRUC) include the setting up of an LRUC Management Authority (MA).

The Government set out the proposed functions of the MA in "Modernising the taxation of the haulage industry: lorry road-user charge—Progress report 3" in March 2004, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Since then Customs have been doing more work on the MA's functions, although final decisions about its scope and the timetable for the transition from a procurement programme to a Management Authority have yet to be taken.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners live in the South West Bedfordshire constituency. [191010]

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

Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Selous, dated 14 October 2004

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many pensioners live in the South West Bedfordshire constituency. (191010),

The latest available data for constituencies can be found in reports from the 2001 population census.

Figures from the Census 2001—Census Area Statistics for parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales Indicate that on census day (29th April 2001) there were 15,401 people of pensionable age, (5,645 males aged 65 and over , and 9,756 females aged 60 and over), resident in the South West Bedfqrdshire constituency.

The Census 2001—Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales CD was released on the 16th September 2004 and is now available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about proposed changes to the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services in south-west Hampshire. [190754]

The configuration of local health services, including the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services, is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [189638]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what assessment he has made of the treatment provided for Mr. and Mrs. Walker by Derriford hospital in Plymouth on 3 September; and if he will make a statement; [190648]

(2) what the total cost was to the NHS of transporting Mrs. Paula Walker of Plympton from Derriford hospital, Plymouth to Merthyr Tydfil hospital and then on to Winchester hospital, in September. [190649]

The Department has not made an assessment of the treatment provided for Mr. and Mrs. Walker at Derriford hospital in Plymouth on 3 September. In line with our policy of shifting the balance of power, responsibility for the provision of local health services rests with local national health service trusts and decisions about the treatment for patients are the responsibility of the clinicians involved in individual cases. The Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is responsible for services provided at Derriford hospital. The information requested about the cost to the NHS is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) how many places for heroin addiction for people aged (a) under 18 and (b) over 18 are provided by the Devon NHS Partnership Trust; [190867]

(2) what the average waiting time for mental health patients referred by general practitioners to community health teams is in the Devon NHS Partnership Trust area. [190868]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) if he will make a statement on the availability of drug rehabilitation services in Leeds; [189951]

(2) what changes in waiting times for drug addiction treatment there have been since 1997 in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Leeds and (c) Leeds West Primary Care Trust area; and if he will make a statement. [190006]

A full range of drug services is provided in Leeds through both statutory and voluntary providers in accordance with the interventions identified in tiers 1–3 of "Models of Care". The city of Leeds does not have a tier 4 residential rehabilitation or in-patient detoxification service. All clients are provided with these services out of the city. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) is working with the local drug action team (DAT) to improve waiting times for these services.

The information requested on waiting times has been collected since 2002 and is shown in the tables.

Average waiting times for drug treatment Weeks

Average waiting times for drug treatment Weeks

Source:

National Treatment Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2004, Official Report, column 1646, on free school fruit, how many children will benefit from the school fruit and vegetable scheme in those parts of the Romsey constituency that do not have a Romsey post code. [190300]

Schools in the Romsey constituency will join the school fruit and vegetable scheme in November 2004, when children aged four to six will start receiving a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.

We are currently in the process of ensuring schools participate in the scheme and aggregating the numbers of eligible children in each school. In early November, we will know the precise number of children in the Romsey constituency who are benefiting from the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparisons his Department has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C in the UK with that of other EU members states; and what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for differences. [189818]

In 1996, the French Reseau National de Santé Publique carried out a project funded by the European Commission entitledEuropean Survey on hepatitis C 1. Individual member states provided estimates of the prevalence of hepatitis C in their countries, which are shown in the table. These estimates were based mainly on data about blood donors or selected groups and were presented as an order of magnitude rather than reliable estimates.

The survey showed that the prevalence of hepatitis C tended to be lower in northern European countries and higher in southern European countries. The reasons for these differences are not clear.

¹ Nalpas B, Delarocque-Astagneau E, Desenclos J-C. European Survey on hepatitis C December 1996. Project financed by the commission of the European Community: DG V.

Country estimates of the prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in the general population in the 15 European Economic Community countries, 1996

Note:

Figures given in italics were not reported in the survey questionnaires returned by member states, and were estimated by the authors of the report using the prevalence estimates from nearest neighbouring state.

In 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published estimates of global hepatitis C prevalence by country that were derived from published studies and/or data submitted to the WHO. Differences in the population groups studied, methods of data collection and interpretation between countries, and availability of data means that the estimated prevalence shown does not necessarily represent the true prevalence in a country. These estimates are available on the WHO website at http://www.who.int/docstore/wer/pdf/1999/wer7449.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparisons his Department has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C in Scotland with that in the remainder of the UK. [189819]

The estimated prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C for the general population in Scotland is 0.9 per cent., compared with 0.5 per cent, for England.