Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 3 November 2004
Wales
Fallen Stock
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with his colleagues in the National Assembly regarding the National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme. [194559]
We have regular discussions with Assembly colleagues on agricultural issues and I am pleased to note that the National Fallen Stock Scheme will begin on 22 November.
Community Support Officers
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many police community support officers have been employed in Wales. [194560]
130 at 30 September. An additional 40 are being recruited as part of the third round of Home Office funding.
Business Regulations
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet representatives of small business organisations in Wales to discuss business regulation. [194562]
I have regular meetings with representatives of the business community. I am looking forward to addressing an awards ceremony later this month to celebrate the achievement of Welsh small businesses.
Minimum Wage
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the impact in Wales of recent changes in the minimum wage. [194563]
Tens and thousands of low-paid workers stand to benefit from the increases to the national minimum wage in October, including for the first time young workers aged 16 and 17 who will receive £3 an hour.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on the impact in Wales of recent changes in the minimum wage. [194561]
Tens of thousands of low-paid workers stand to benefit from the increases to the national minimum wage in October, including for the first time young workers aged 16 and 17 who will receive £3 an hour.
Recycling
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales regarding recycling. [194565]
Regular ones. The Assembly's Waste Strategy sets escalating targets requiring at least 40 per cent. of municipal waste to be recycled or composted by 2010.
I know that Newport Wastesavers has a good record of developing successful recycling initiatives. Performance during their current trial of collecting recyclables and residual waste in alternate weeks has been most encouraging.
Railways
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss the railway service between London Euston and North Wales with the relevant train operating companies. [194564]
I have no immediate plans to do so.
I do, however, welcome the recent introduction of the first direct train service between Llandudno and London since 1964.
Prime Minister
Butler Report
To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken since the publication of the Butler Report to improve the machinery and operating procedures of government. [195695]
To ask the Prime Minister whether he has (a) adopted and (b) implemented all the recommendations of the Butler report. [195282]
As I said in my statements to the House on 14 and 20 July, we fully accept the conclusions of the Butler Review. We have a detailed programme under way to take forward work into addressing those conclusions. Progress will be reported to the Intelligence and Security Committee.
Transport
Cheap Flights (EU)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on measures taken by the EU to encourage cheaper flights between EU countries. [195292]
The European Community has been the driving force in the liberalisation of air services within Europe through the progressive establishment of the European single market in aviation during the late 1980s and 1990s. This has allowed European airlines to compete freely on intra-EU routes, offering services and setting fares according to their commercial judgement. The Government fully supports this process, as we believe that fair competition between air carriers in a liberalised market is the best guarantee of a good deal for air passengers. A good example of this is the rapid growth of the so-called "no-frills" sector, which would not have been possible without the development of the European single aviation market.
Colitis/Crohn's Disease
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the research into the independent mobility needs of people with colitis and Crohn's disease to determine whether eligibility to the blue badge scheme should be extended; and if he will make a statement. [195213]
holding answer 1 November 2004
The research we will be undertaking will consider the mobility needs of a number of groups of disabled people who are currently excluded from the scheme. I can confirm that this research will include the needs of those with colitis and Crohn's disease.
This is one of three research projects we are taking forward as a direct result of the review of the scheme. We are finalising the work specifications and intend to go out to tender later this year for all three. On this particular project we would expect to have results and recommendations in the course of next year.
Consultants
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement. [191734]
The Department was formed in May 2002. Lists of the consultants used and the total value of orders raised against each in 2002–03 and 2003–04 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The values of each individual contract and the purpose of the work in every case are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Network Rail (Masts)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate the Government has made of the number of Network Rail telecommunications masts that Network Rail are planning to erect. [195255]
Network Rail advises that as part of its programme to introduce the Global System for Mobile Communication for Railways it is planning to erect approximately 2,000 new telecommunication masts nationally by 2013.
Night Flights
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department have held with counterparts overseas on night flight arrangements at airports; and if he will make a statement. [196034]
No discussions have been held recently between Ministers on an international level on the subject of night flight arrangements at airports. The subject is discussed regularly at international official-level meetings, most recently during the environmental debates at the 35th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (27 September–8 October 2004). On that occasion, the trigger for discussion was a working paper by the Government of India entitled "Problems caused by night curfews in some parts of the world", in which it was argued that night curfews were a hindrance to market access and the growth of air transport operations and hence should be removed. The discussion concluded that
"this matter should be further studied by the [ICAO] Council, resources permitting, particularly with a view to determining the scope and scale of the problem".
Rail Security
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on security inspections undertaken across the British rail network. [194658]
The Department for Transport's security inspectors regularly monitor the security at railway stations to ensure the requisite standards are being met.
Special Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194062]
For information relating to numbers and names of unpaid advisors I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2004, Official Report, columns 466–70W.
Special advisors, whether paid or unpaid, are employed under the terms and conditions set out in the model contract for special advisors. Unpaid advisors are appointed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code.
Leader of the House
Deferred Divisions
To ask the Leader of the House since its introduction, how many deferred divisions have been held in each parliamentary Session since they were introduced. [194916]
The number of deferred divisions held in each parliamentary Session since they were introduced is as follows:
Number of deferred divisions 2000–01 37 2001–02 12 2002–03 15 2003–04 5 so far
Treasury
Departmental Publications
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Department's target is for the interval between publication of (a) departmental announcements and documents and (b) material published by public bodies for which his Department has oversight and their posting online; and what the average interval was in the latest year for which figures are available. [195395]
No figures are currently available for the average interval in the latest year between the publication of a document or announcement by any of the Chancellor's departments and its posting on their website.
The Debt Management office has targets to publish the results of gilt auctions within 40 minutes, the results of Treasury bill tenders within 30 minutes and the results of ad hoc or other tenders within 15 minutes. In 2003–04 the intervals met these targets.
The Chancellor's other departments do not have interval targets. For scheduled releases, documents and announcements are in general uploaded at the same time as publication. For unscheduled releases, the departments and public bodies aim to upload documents and announcements as soon as possible after publication.
Independent Savings Accounts
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the amount of tax-free savings it is possible to deposit in independent savings accounts. [195582]
The Government regularly keep under review incentives for saving, including Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs). Decisions on these issues are a matter for the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget process.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Consultants
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. [193418]
The information requested is not held centrally and cannot be provided at proportionate cost.
Farming
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on the implementation of recommendations of the Curry Report. [190108]
Implementation of recommendations in the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, chaired by Sir Donald Curry, is being taken forward through the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food (SSFF), which was launched in December 2002. As part of the 2002 Spending Review, the Government announced a sum of £500 million to implement the strategy. This is in addition to existing spending by Defra and other Government Departments which is already being used to deliver aspects of the strategy.
The additional funding provided covers a number of major aspects of the strategy. These include the new Environmental Stewardship Scheme (Entry Level and Higher Level) and the IT system to underpin all the England Rural Develop Programme (ERDP) schemes; improvements in livestock traceability and other major animal health and welfare measures; and new food chain initiatives such as the Food Chain Centre and English Farming and Food Partnerships.
The table shows the actual spending in 2003–04 and the broad breakdown over the remainder of the Spending Review period.
£ million
2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 Total Additional money to be made available via grant schemes 9 11 11 31 Investment into research and new technology 1.8 1.8 1.8 5.4 Development and implementation of new agri-environment and rural development schemes, including IT development costs 33 54 151 238 Development and implementation of new Whole Farm Approach to reduce bureaucracy and burden on farmers 2.7 7 8 17.7 IT systems to support livestock identification and tracing 3 65 68 136 Investment to reduce the likelihood and impact of an animal disease outbreak 21 49 45 115 Total 543.1
Delivery of the strategy in the English regions is being facilitated by many public body and industry representatives and these organisations are working together with both resource and funding support to deliver the vision set out in the strategy. They are making use of Government grants, industry support and the resources of Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, as well as other Government bodies participating in regional steering groups. Existing support programmes, including the ERDP have been targeted to deliver SSFF regional action plans. Given the number of public and industry bodies contributing to regional delivery, it is not possible to quantify precisely the level of support being made available to fund delivery of the strategy.
Foxes
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between what ranges she estimates the fox population has fluctuated in the last five years; what estimate she has made of how many foxes died in each of those years, broken down by cause; and what estimate she has made of those figures in future years if hunting with hounds is ended. [189814]
Lord Burns reported that the pre-breeding fox population of England and Wales was estimated to total some 217,000. He noted that this almost trebled during the breeding season, but that the pre-breeding population was roughly stable, suggesting that some 400,000 foxes died each year. He also noted that hunts were estimated to kill some 21,000 to 25,000 foxes annually, which equated to approximately 6 per cent. of fox deaths per year. This does not suggest that a ban on hunting will have a significant impact on overall fox numbers in future years. Defra does not itself make estimates of the fox population nor provide a year by year comparison.
Grey Squirrel
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of the destruction of trees in (a) community forests and (b) other planting schemes by the grey squirrel. [192516]
No specific estimate has been made of the likely cost of grey squirrel damage to woodland planted under the community forest programme or any other support mechanism. However, it is accepted that grey squirrels can cause serious damage to woodlands.
New Deal
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years. [194027]
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1052W.
International Development
CDC
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list (a) current and (b) former CDC/Actis Capital import-export investments by (i) country, (ii) investment fund, (iii) amount and (iv) sector since 1997. [193323]
Neither CDC nor Actis has made investments in companies whose business is import-export.
Departmental Staff
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department earn more than a whole-time equivalent salary of £57,485 per year. [195283]
DFID has 102 staff earning more than a whole-time equivalent salary of £57,485 per year.
Fossil Fuel Energy
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the 10 highest-costing fossil fuel energy generation projects funded by his Department in 2003–04 were. [194760]
The only fossil fuel energy generation projects funded by DFID in 2003–04 were in Iraq, involving the provision of emergency diesel generators. These were carried out as part of the efforts to restore electricity supplies for essential services such as water supplies, sewage treatment and hospitals.
Iraq
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with counterparts in the US Administration on cutting off water supplies in Iraq. [192088]
I have had no such discussions.
Press Officers
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press officers are employed in his Department; and how many were employed in each year since 1996–97. [195360]
holding answer 1 November 2004
The number of press officers employed by the Department for International Development since 1996–97 is as follows:
Number of press officers 1996–97 6 1997–98 6 1998–99 4 1999–2000 3.3 2000–01 4.5 2001–02 4 2002–03 5 2003–04 6 2004–05 6
The staff numbers for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 include personnel working part-time.
Deputy Prime Minister
Council Tax Bands
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households were in each council tax band in England in each year since 1997–98. [195249]
The information requested for all England is tabled as follows.
Thousand
As at March Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H Total 1998 5,530 4,048 4,513 3,068 1,885 987 718 111 20,860 1999 5,552 4,072 4,538 3,100 1,912 1,003 728 113 21,018 2000 5,565 4,093 4,562 3,133 1,940 1,021 739 115 21,168 2001 5,566 4,111 4,586 3,166 1,968 1,038 750 116 21,299 2002 5,562 4,131 4,614 3,200 1,998 1,054 760 118 21,437 2003 5,561 4,155 4,647 3,236 2,025 1,071 770 119 21,583 2004 5,568 4,184 4,683 3,276 2,050 1,084 111 121 21,742
Data Protection
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what procedures are in place (a) to check the criminal records of civil servants in his Department and agencies responsible to his Department who have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public and (b) to ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and if he will make a statement. [194605]
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies do not maintain databases that contain confidential information on members of the public, and staff thus do not have access to such databases.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does nevertheless carry out character checks prior to unconditional offers of employment being made. It is a condition of employment for staff to report if they are convicted of a criminal offence or charged with an offence relating to their official position, and failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
Government Offices for the Regions
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role Government offices for the regions play in the planning process. [194330]
The Government offices for the regions (GOs) are the primary vehicle through which a wide range of Government policies are delivered in the English regions. The GOs promote Government policies and programmes and use their influence to enable communities in their regions to become better places in which to live, through the effective alignment and delivery of national, regional and local priorities.
On planning, the GOs advise the First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, on regional spatial strategies and local development documents; monitor and engage with local planning authorities to improve and maintain their performance and to ensure the authorities can meet their planning targets; advise whether planning applications should be called-in for ministerial determination; and decide on behalf of Ministers certain other planning cases which, under the Town and Country Planning Acts and other legislation, fall to the First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to determine. More generally, they represent Ministers in dealings with regional partners, making links between planning and other programmes such as housing.
Housing
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many dwellings his Department plans to be constructed in England over the next 20 years. [195164]
Existing Regional Spatial Strategies and the Mayor's London Plan provide for approximately 162,000 additional dwellings a year to be built in England over and above existing stock. The time period covered by each RSS varies and none of them specifically cover the next 20 years to 2024. The equivalent gross figure—which is not available, as the Regional Planning Bodies are required to provide net returns—would also include the number of reconstructions post demolition.
Neighbourhood Wardens
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many neighbourhood wardens are deployed in Cornwall; and in which communities. [195104]
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funds two neighbourhood warden schemes in Cornwall, deploying 10 wardens.
Eight neighbourhood wardens (including one Environmental worker, one Community worker, one youth worker and a part time youth worker) are deployed in North Kerrier. They cover Higher Broadlane in Pool, Pengeran in Camborne and Close Hill in Redrath.
Two neighbourhood wardens are deployed in St. Austell, covering Polgrean Place, Landreath Place and Bobspen estates in St. Blazey.
Network Rail
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister
(1) what discussions he has had with Network Rail about potential uses for the Global System for Mobile communications—Railway plan other than in connection with the movement of traffic by rail; [194938]
(2) what discussions he has had with Network Rail about the erection of telecommunication installations on land in (a) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (b) conservation areas; [194939]
(3) what discussions he has held with Network Rail about its methods of consultation with local communities when erecting telecommunication installations. [194941]
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has had no discussions with Network Rail about these issues.
Regional Assemblies
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms will be put in place to resolve differences between elected local authorities over the content and adoption of a regional spatial strategy by a regional chamber. [195256]
If there are still unresolved issues at the point at which the Regional Planning Body (RPB) submits draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) revision to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, these will be addressed in the context of the independently facilitated Examination in Public (EiP). The EiP considers representations made by interested parties and a Panel report is subsequently submitted to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, and the report published. The Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, will then publish and consult on proposed changes before approving and issuing the final RSS.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on allowing non-UK nationals to vote in (a) local elections, (b) regional government elections and (c) regional assembly referendums. [195261]
The information is as follows:
(a) Under the Representation of the People of the People Act 1983, those entitled to vote in local government elections are British citizens, other qualifying Commonwealth citizens, citizens of the Republic of Ireland and citizens of the European Union states. Those who are not included in any of these categories are not eligible to be included in the electoral register and are therefore not eligible to vote in local government elections. (b) The Government intend that the franchise for regional assembly elections will be based on the local government elections franchise, in this respect, and will be set out explicitly in the relevant dedicated enabling legislation. (c) The franchise for regional assembly referendums is based on the local government elections franchise and is set out explicitly in the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003.
Special Grants (Lincolnshire)
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) funding and (b) grants additional to the rate support grant have been made available to North East Lincolnshire over the last two financial years. [195137]
In the last two financial years, the amount of funding and grant made available to North East Lincolnshire, in additional to the revenue support grant, are tabled as follows.
£000
2003–04 2004–05 Special and specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF) 21,578 32,276 Redistributed non-domestic rates 47,847 44,134 Total 69,425 76,410
The data are as reported by local authorities and are taken from the Revenue Account budget estimate forms for 2003–04 and 2004–05.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the special grants awarded to (a) North Lincolnshire council and (b) North East Lincolnshire council in each year since 1997; and what the value was of each grant. [195212]
The grants within Aggregate External Finance that have been awarded to(a) North Lincolnshire council and (b) North East Lincolnshire council since 1997–98 are tabled as follows.
The data are as reported by the local authority and use outturn data for 1997–98 to 2002–03 and budget data for 2003–04 and 2004–05.
North East Lincolnshire UA -- £000
Grants within AEF 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Access and Systems Capacity — — — — Additional HB and CTB administration due to Pension Credit — — — — Adoption Support and Special Guardianship — — — — AIDS/HIV Support 4 4 4 4 Asylum Seekers — 28 28 953 Building Care Capacity — — — — Carers Grant — — — — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) — — — — Child Care and Early Years — — — 239 Children's Services — — — 356 Children's Social Services — — — — Choice Protects — — — — Class Size Reductions — — — 715 Community Care Special Transitional Grant 972 1,095 1,095 — Council Tax Benefit Administration 206 208 208 241 Deferred Payment — — — — Delayed Discharges — — — — Detrunking — — — — Drug and Alcohol Misusers — — — 10 Education Budget Support Grant — — — — Education Maintenance Allowances — — — — Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant — 30 30 25 Excellence in Cities — — — — General Sure Start Grant — — — — Guardians ad Litem 31 — — — Homelessness Strategies — — 26 — Housing Benefit Administration 281 277 277 271 Leadership Incentive — — — — Magistrates Courts 625 752 752 758 Mental Health 159 174 174 339 Nursery Education Grant for four year olds — — — 218 Nursery Education for three year olds — — — — Performance Fund — — — — Preserved Rights — — — — Probation (Ordinary 80 per cent. Grant) 985 1,026 1,026 1,150 Promoting Independence — — — — Promoting Independence: Carers — — — 156 Promoting Independence: Partnership — — — 664 Promoting Independence: Prevention — — — 93 Provision for three year olds — — — 649 Residential Allowance — — — — Rural Bus Challenge — — — — Rural Bus Services 42 42 43 Rural Bus Subsidy — — — — Safeguarding Children — — — — School Standards Grant — — — — Section 11 (Ethnic Minorities) Grant (excluding SRB) 25 — — — Social Services Training Support Programme 159 169 169 228 Standards Fund 754 1,173 1,173 3,736 Supported Employment 64 — — 61 Supporting People Administration — — — — Supporting People Implementation Grant — — — — Supporting People Programme—Housing — — — — Supporting People Programme—Social Services — — — — Sure Start — — — 679 Teachers Pay Reform — — — 345 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation — — — — The Private Finance Initiative — — — — Training Support Programme — — — — Under fives specific grant — 20 20 — Urban Bus Challenge — — — — Waste Re-Cycling Challenge — — — — Workstep — — — — Young Peoples Substance Misuse Planning — — — — Youth Justice — — — 10 Other grants within AEF — 129 129 450 Total grants within AEF 4,265 5,127 5,127 12,393
£000
2001–02 2002–03 Budget 2003–04 Budget 2004–05 Access and Systems Capacity — — 527 1,428 Additional HB and CTB administration due to Pension Credit — — — 177 Adoption Support and Special Guardianship — — — 75 AIDS/HIV Support 6 9 6 9 Asylum Seekers 771 592 641 450 Building Care Capacity — 506 — — Carers Grant — 267 312 389 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) — — 146 198 Child Care and Early Years 685 466 549 — Children's Services — — 1,828 — Children's Social Services 903 1,904 — — Choice Protects — — — 98 Class Size Reductions 662 — — — Community Care Special Transitional Grant — — — — Council Tax Benefit Administration 258 267 241 546 Deferred Payment — 3 136 — Delayed Discharges — — — 313 Detrunking — — — 10 Drug and Alcohol Misusers 51 — — — Education Budget Support Grant 2,237 — — — Education Maintenance Allowances — 737 — — Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant — — — — Excellence in Cities — — 869 1,542 General Sure Start Grant — — — 759 Guardians ad Litem — — — — Homelessness Strategies — — — — Housing Benefit Administration 279 383 1,063 915 Leadership Incentive — — 675 884 Magistrates Courts 882 1,034 1,247 1,353 Mental Health 398 478 405 401 Nursery Education Grant for four year olds — — — — Nursery Education for three year olds — 824 — — Performance Fund — 67 297 — Preserved Rights — 2,032 2,143 1,561 Probation (Ordinary 80 per cent. Grant) — — — — Promoting Independence 929 484 — — Promoting Independence: Carers 220 — — — Promoting Independence: Partnership — — — — Promoting Independence: Prevention — — — — Provision for three year olds 730 — — — Residential Allowance — 294 — 2,313 Rural Bus Challenge — — 118 113 Rural Bus Services 55 62 — — Rural Bus Subsidy — — 63 74 Safeguarding Children — — — 294 School Standards Grant 360 2,261 2,744 2,953 Section 11 (Ethnic Minorities) Grant (excluding SRB) — — — — Social Services Training Support Programme 251 235 — — Standards Fund 5,673 7,005 3,082 5,306 Supported Employment — — — — Supporting People Administration — — 261 179 Supporting People Implementation Grant — 122 — — Supporting People Programme—Housing — — — 2,582 Supporting People Programme—Social Services — — — 4,003 Sure Start — — — — Teachers Pay Reform 2,275 2,226 1,690 1,819 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation — 171 198 222 The Private Finance Initiative 221 580 478 535 Training Support Programme — — 216 382 Under fives specific grant — — — — Urban Bus Challenge — — 153 111 Waste Re-Cycling Challenge — — 583 — Workstep — — — 78 Young Peoples Substance Misuse Planning — 23 — — Youth Justice — — — — Other grants within AEF 1,850 404 907 178 Total grants within AEF 19,696 23,436 21,578 32,276
North Lincolnshire UA -- £000
Grants within AEF 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Access and Systems Capacity — — — — Additional HB and CTB administration due to Pension Credit — — — — Additional HB and CTB administration due to Tax Credits — — — — Adoption Support and Special Guardianship — — — — AIDS/HIV Support 8 4 6 6 Asylum Seekers — 2 17 36 Building Care Capacity — — — — Carers Grant — — — — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) — — — — Child Care and Early Years — — — 170 Children's Services — — 159 250 Children's Social Services — — — — Choice Protects — — — — Class Size Reductions — — 1,011 945 Community Care Special Transitional Grant 919 989 — — Council Tax Benefit Administration 149 168 — — Deferred Payment — — — — Delayed Discharges — — — — Detrunking — — — — Drug and Alcohol Misusers — — — 6 Education Budget Support Grant — — — — Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant — 506 183 164 Excellence in Cities — — — — Guardians ad Litem 36 — — — Homelessness Strategies — — — — Housing Benefit Administration 202 186 354 351 Human Resources Development Strategy — — — — Leadership Incentive — — — — Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) Performance Reward — — — — Magistrates Courts 506 — — — Mental Health 150 165 342 387 National Training Strategy — — — — Nursery Education Grant for four year olds — — 186 850 Nursery Education for three year olds — — — — Performance Fund — — — — Preserved Rights — — — — Probation (Ordinary 80 per cent. Grant) 940 — — — Promoting Independence — — — — Promoting Independence: Carers — — 42 137 Promoting Independence: Partnership — — 718 599 Promoting Independence: Prevention — — 50 75 Provision for three year olds — — — 495 Residential Allowance — — — — Rural Bus Subsidy — 133 253 257 Safeguarding Children — — — — School Budget Support Grant — — — 162 School Standards Grant — — — — Section 11 (Ethnic Minorities) Grant (excluding SRB) 195 — — — Social Services Training Support Programme 183 178 180 172 Standards Fund 670 2,034 2,073 3,906 Supported Employment 168 174 182 210 Supporting People Administration — — — — Supporting People Implementation Grant — — — — Supporting People Programme — — — — Supporting People Programme—Housing — — — — Supporting People Programme—Social Services — — — — Sure Start — — — 20 Teachers Pay Reform — — — 765 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation — — — — Training Support Programme — — — — Under fives specific grant — 183 — — Waste and Recycling — — — — Workstep — — — — Youth Justice — — — 15 Other grants within AEF 4,496 2,182 185 1,033 Total grants within AEF 8,622 6,904 5,941 11,011
£000
2001–02 2002–03 Budget 2003–04 Budget 2004–05 Access and Systems Capacity — — 488 1,324 Additional HB and CTB administration due to Pension Credit — — — 40 Additional HB and CTB administration due to Tax Credits — — — 32 Adoption Support and Special Guardianship — — — 53 AIDS/HIV Support 16 27 15 26 Asylum Seekers 24 26 34 47 Building Care Capacity — 454 — — Carers Grant — 232 271 340 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) — — 101 139 Child Care and Early Years 437 958 1,020 — Children's Services — — 555 — Children's Social Services 643 1,075 — — Choice Protects — — — 89 Class Size Reductions 808 — — — Community Care Special Transitional Grant — — — — Council Tax Benefit Administration — — 404 429 Deferred Payment — — 124 — Delayed Discharges — — — 290 Detrunking — — — 359 Drug and Alcohol Misusers 40 — — — Education Budget Support Grant 100 — — — Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant — — — — Excellence in Cities — — 579 1,032 Guardians ad Litem — — — — Homelessness Strategies — — — 38 Housing Benefit Administration 381 502 386 404 Human Resources Development Strategy — — — 58 Leadership Incentive — — 625 650 Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) Performance Reward — — 402 — Magistrates Courts — — 1,063 — Mental Health 406 452 409 394 National Training Strategy — — — 77 Nursery Education Grant for four year olds — — — — Nursery Education for three year olds — 845 — — Performance Fund — 62 274 — Preserved Rights — 1,959 1,792 1,403 Probation (Ordinary 80 per cent. Grant) — — — — Promoting Independence 813 434 — — Promoting Independence: Carers 190 — — — Promoting Independence: Partnership — — — — Promoting Independence: Prevention — — — — Provision for three year olds 794 — — — Residential Allowance — 261 269 1,534 Rural Bus Subsidy 329 381 388 393 Safeguarding Children — — — 207 School Budget Support Grant — — — — School Standards Grant 2,247 2,314 2,745 3,022 Section 11 (Ethnic Minorities) Grant (excluding SRB) — — — — Social Services Training Support Programme 206 200 — — Standards Fund 3,977 6,219 2,597 4,300 Supported Employment 222 — — — Supporting People Administration — — 189 164 Supporting People Implementation Grant 57 170 — — Supporting People Programme — — 1,835 — Supporting People Programme—Housing — — — 515 Supporting People Programme—Social Services — — — 3,058 Sure Start — — — — Teachers Pay Reform 1,944 3,240 1,787 — Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation — 131 157 175 Training Support Programme — — 197 127 Under fives specific grant — — — — Waste and Recycling — 44 — — Workstep — — 225 208 Youth Justice — — — — Other grants within AEF 991 1,470 1,844 205 Total grants within AEF 14,625 21,456 20,775 21,132
Scotland
Press Releases
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2004; and if he will make a statement. [195456]
The number of news releases issued by the Scotland Office in each month from 1 January 2004 to 29 October 2004 is as follows, and does not include operational notes issued to the media in connection with public engagements carried out by Ministers, or Scotland Office contributions to joint news releases with other organisations:
Number January 4 February 4 March 4 April 3 May 2 June 4 July 4 August 3 September 6 October 2
Special Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194061]
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1380W.
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the latest figure is for the average length of continuous service for civil servants within the Cabinet Office. [194405]
The latest figures for the average length of continuous service for civil servants in departments and agencies (where known) as at 1 April 2004 have been placed in the Library.
Departmental Responsibilities
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 59W, on departmental responsibilities, what sum has been earmarked from within the existing Cabinet Office budget to meet the cost of appointing a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. [191819]
holding answer 18 October 2004
The cost will be accounted for in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts.
Minister for Women
Special Advisers
To ask the Minister for Women how many unpaid special advisers her unit has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194056]
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1380W.
House of Commons Commission
Official Report/Order Paper
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many paper copies of the (a) Official Report and (b) Order Paper are (i) produced, (ii) distributed to hon. Members, peers, staff and visitors and (iii) unused, on an average sitting day; what use is made of paper copies of the Official Report and the Order Paper which are not distributed to hon. Members, peers, staff and visitors; and what the total cost per day of producing the (A) Official Report and (B) Order Paper was in the last period for which figures are available (1) per copy and (2) in total. [194340]
Typically, 1,736 copies of the daily part of the Official Report and 2,930 copies of the Order Paper are produced overnight for issue in that form. This includes copies produced for sale. The House of Commons takes 1,089 copies of the daily part of the Official Report and 2,693 copies of the Order Paper.
493 copies of the Official Report are distributed direct to Members, the Press Gallery and Departments of the House. The Bookshop receives 50 copies. The remaining House copies are retained in the Vote Office for the whole of the current and subsequent Session of Parliament, as required by the House, for issue on demand over that period to anyone entitled to receive a copy. Other than for purposes of management of overall paper stocks within limited storage space, which is infrequent, copies are not disposed of during this time. At the end of the period any remaining copies are disposed of as waste for recycling.
1,423 copies of the Order Paper are distributed direct to Members, to the Galleries for visitors, to the Press Gallery and Departments of the House. The remaining House copies are retained in the Vote Office for issue on demand to anyone entitled to receive a copy. Other than a few record copies, copies of the Order Paper are not retained beyond the day of issue and any remaining are disposed of as waste for recycling. The surplus varies widely, but ranges between fewer than 100 copies and up to 300 copies. The print run is regularly reviewed to ensure any consistent surpluses are minimised.
The daily and copy costs of producing the Official Report and the Order Paper are not held in the form requested, as the present printing contract pricing structure allows for payments in relation to printing consolidated classes of papers supplied complete, with rebates for quantities exceeding pre-determined limits. Internal staff, and other costs, are not associated with them or apportioned to individual documents. The following figures have been derived from printing contract data. The total printing expenditure per sitting day on the daily part of the Official Report for financial year 2003–04 is estimated at approximately £10,000, which equates to about £9.30 per House copy. The total printing expenditure per printing day on the Order Paper for the same period is estimated at approximately £5,400, which equates to about £2.00 per House copy.
Passes
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many passes have been issued to former hon. Members in each of the last 10 years. [194749]
120 former hon. Members have passes at present. A breakdown by year of issue cannot readily be provided.
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of 9A and 9B House of Commons hon. Members' staff passes are held by hon. Members' staff employed on the Department of Finance and Administration's contract of employment and whose salaries are met from the hon. Members' staffing allowance. [194800]
There are currently 1,451 pass holders with category 9A and 9B passes. All of these passes are held by Members staff, on the basis of an application from the Member concerned. Category 9A and 9B passes are not limited to those paid on the standard Department of Finance and Administration contract of employment, nor to those whose salaries are met from the staffing allowance. Because pass records are not sorted by the contractual status of the individual concerned, I am unable to give the percentage figure sought.
Defence
Departmental Properties
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the properties occupied (a) by his Department and (b) by its agencies in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004, showing (1) for each and (2) in aggregate (A) the area and (B) the annual rental value. [195428]
The information is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Iraq
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the redeployment of troops outside South East Iraq will have on his decision to cut the number of regiments in the Army. [193304]
holding answer 25 October 2004
The requirement to reduce the infantry is a result of two factors. First, the improving security situation in Northern Ireland and the prospect of normalisation—which has provided us with an opportunity to make reductions in the routine support that the Army provides to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)—and second, the decision by the Army Board to stop the infantry arms plot.
The Army is working on its proposals for a restructured infantry which, with more battalions at its general disposal, will be more, not less, deployable.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military reservists from Northern Ireland have so far been mobilised for operations in Iraq; and what the average period of Service is. [193558]
So far approximately 360 members of the Territorial Army and Regular Army Reserves from Northern Ireland have been mobilised for operations in Iraq. The average period of their Service is nine months, six of which are spent in theatre.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Iraqi troops are playing in Iraq. [193649]
The role of the Iraqi Security Forces is to support the Iraqi Interim Government in providing security in Iraq. They continue to develop the capacity to undertake this activity through a variety of security organisations, namely, the Iraqi Police Service, National Guard, Army, Facilities Protection Service, Coastal Defence Forces, Air Force and the Department of Border Enforcement.
Missile Defence
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the information referred to in paragraphs 7.2 to 7.7 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and United States on research, development, tests and evaluation of ballistic missile defence capabilities and systems will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [195385]
All recorded information held by the Ministry of Defence is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The paragraphs in question refer to information generated by both past and future collaborative work. We would consider on a case-by-case basis any requests for such information to be disclosed under the Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total budget agreed to date for implementation of co-operation with the United States on research, development, tests and evaluation of ballistic missile defence capabilities and systems is; and what proportion will be paid by the United Kingdom. [195386]
There is no agreed budget with the United States for co-operation on ballistic missile defence. Under the terms of the recently signed Research Development Test and Evaluation Annex, any such funding will be agreed on a project-by-project basis; to date there are no agreed projects. Details of the United Kingdom funding for ballistic missile defence research were given in my reply of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 211W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the relationship between the 1958 (as amended) US/UK mutual Defense Agreements on Atomic Energy Matters and the US/UK Memorandum of Understanding on research, development, test and evaluation of ballistic missile defence capabilities and systems, dated 12 June 2003. [195387]
I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Annex signed on 12 October 2004, the Introduction to which recognises the 1958 US/UK Mutual Defence Agreement. This reference is an acknowledgement that, in the event that any exchange of background nuclear information was required to inform ballistic missile co-operative work, such an exchange would need to take place under the information exchange provisions of the 1958 Agreement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written statement of 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 9–10WS, on missile defence, how many officials and scientists from his Department have been seconded to the US Missile Defense Agency; what plans there are for future secondments to that Agency; how many US Department of Defense officials and scientists have been seconded to the United Kingdom Missile Defence Centre; and what plans there are for future secondments to the Centre. [195411]
Under the provisions of the Participating Personnel Attachment to the 2003 UK/US Ballistic Missile Defence Framework Agreement, two Ministry of Defence personnel are currently seconded to the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) or MDA-sponsored posts and plans are in place to send a further two by spring 2005. The US currently has two personnel seconded to the UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) or MDC-sponsored posts under this agreement and two further secondments are being planned.
Playing Fields
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list playing fields and other sites used now or previously for sport and recreation which have been identified for disposal in the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2008, broken down by (a) location and (b) county; and what estimate has been made of likely receipts. [195595]
The information is not held centrally and will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Warships
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what year he plans to order replacements for (a) HMS Talent, (b) HMS Triumph, (c) HMS Torbay and (d) HMS Trenchant. [194473]
We are not directly replacing the Trafalgar class of nuclear attack submarines platform by platform. HMS Astute will be the first of the next class of nuclear attack submarines, with a planned in service date of 2009. The first three Astute class boats are currently on order; decisions on further buys will be made when appropriate.
Trade and Industry
Vision Boards
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) names and (b) biographical details are of the members of Lancaster Vision Board; and what the (i) names and (ii) addresses are of the businesses or organisations that they represent. [192976]
holding answer 21 October 2004
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her today to question numbers: 192919, 192920, 192921,192922, 192926, 192927 and 192928.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
(1) who funds the running costs of (a) vision boards in the North West and (b) Lancaster vision board; [192919]
(2) under whose authority a vision board is set up; [192920]
(3) what the procedures are for (a) appointing to and (b) removing members from a vision board; [192921]
(4) how many vision boards there are in the North West of England; [192922]
(5) who is entitled to apply to become a member of a vision board; and what the procedures governing such applications are; [192926]
(6) where copies of the constitution for the Lancaster vision board are made available; [192927]
(7) what criteria are used for appointing members to the Lancaster vision board. [192928]
The Northwest Development Agency has encouraged the establishment of vision boards in the North West, with the aim of promoting economic leadership at a local level with an emphasis on private sector engagement.
Vision boards have either been established, or are being developed, in Burnley, Cumbria, Lancaster, Northwich and Preston. Local authorities are taking a leading role in determining local structures. The secretariat resources for the vision boards are provided through the local authority with the exception of Cumbria Vision.
Details of the membership and constitution of the Lancaster Vision Board can be obtained from Lancaster city council.
Post Offices
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met Postwatch to discuss (a) the protection of Post Office customers and (b) its action in ensuring that over 95 per cent. of people live within one mile of the nearest Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [194952]
Ministers and officials of the Department meet frequently with Postwatch to discuss a wide range of issues relating to customers. Responsibility for meeting its commitment to ensure that, at the end the urban network reinvention programme at least 95 per cent. nationally of the population in urban areas will still live within 1 mile of their nearest post offices rests with Post Office Ltd.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in Scotland have closed as part of the Urban Network Reinvention Programme. [195159]
I understand from Post Office Ltd. that 100 post office branches have closed to date in Scotland as part of the Urban Network Reinvention programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices proposed for closure under the Urban Reinvention Programme and not opposed by Postwatch have since been kept open as a result of the public consultation. [195160]
Decisions on post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many responses Post Office Ltd received to the public consultations on the proposed closure of (a) Clermiston, (b) East Craigs, (c) Strachan Road, (d) South Gyle, (e) Saughtonhall, (f) Stenhouse Cross, (g) Murrayfield, (h) Fairmilehead, (i) Mayfield, (j) Joppa and (k) Newhaven post offices in Edinburgh. [195161]
This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Social Chapter
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list European legislation passed under the Social Chapter since 1997; and what assessment the Government has made of the cost to business in the United Kingdom of meeting the requirements of the legislation. [195829]
Since 1997, four Directives have been agreed under the EU Social Chapter:
the Burden of proof in sex discrimination cases Directive;
the Part-time Workers Directive;
the Fixed Term Work Directive and
the Information and Consultation Directive.
The Government has implemented all of these in the United Kingdom, with the exception of the Information and Consultation Directive, which is due to come into force in April 2005.
In addition, as it agreed when it ended the UK's opt out of the EU Social Chapter, the Government has implemented the Parental Leave Directive and European Works Council Directive, which were agreed before 1997.
These new rights have helped to set decent minimum standards in the workplace. In doing so, the Government has kept burdens on business to a minimum. The administrative costs to employers of providing the Social Chapter rights account for well under 1p for each worker each week. The policy costs are under £500 million.
Power Industry Workers
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many current or former power industry workers have been (a) diagnosed with and (b) died from asbestos-related diseases related to their employment in each of the last five years. [190966]
I have been asked to reply.
There are no definitive records of the number of people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. However, the best indication comes from the cases identified through the DWP industrial injuries and disablement benefit scheme. These figures are in the table. There are no records of deaths from asbestos related diseases that can be broken down by industry. Tragically, nearly all cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer will result in death. Very few asbestosis cases and no cases of pleural thickening would be expected to be fatal.
Cases of asbestos-related diseases identified through the industrial injuries and disablement benefit scheme in Great Britainin the last five years
Year ending 31 December Asbestosis (prescribed disease D1) Mesothelioma (prescribed disease D3) Lung cancer (prescribed disease D8) Pleural thickening (prescribed disease 9) Total 1999 30 40 5 15 85 2000 15 35 <5 15 65 2001 20 45 5 20 90 2002 40 55 5 40 145 2003 45 65 5 35 150
Notes:
1. The power industries have been taken as electricity, gas and water supply, manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel.
2. To maintain the anonymity of customers, figures have been rounded to the nearest 5—except where the number of customers is below 5.
3. Figure for year ending December 2003 is provisional.
Special Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194057]
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1380W.
Travel Protection
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding improving travel protection, with particular reference to circumstances where an airline goes bankrupt. [195239]
I have been asked to reply.
The Department has received written representations from the following:
The Commons Transport Committee;
The Civil Aviation Organisation; and
The Association of British Travel Agents.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to respond to the Civil Aviation Authority recommendations for widening the scope of travel protection. [195240]
I have been asked to reply.
In a joint statement with the Civil Aviation Authority issued on 27 October, the Government announced that they had asked the CAA to carry out more detailed work on other options to address the decline in the proportion of people covered by the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme. This work is expected to be completed early next year. A copy of the statement is available in the Libraries of the House.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of people covered by ATOL protection in each of the last three years. [195241]
I have been asked to reply.
Based on figures published by the Civil Aviation Authority, the number of people covered by ATOL protection in each of the last three years was as follows:
Million 2001 29.1 2002 27.9 2003 27.6
Solicitor-General
Departmental Staff
To ask the Solicitor-General how many full-time equivalent jobs the Law Officers' Departments had in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) City of York in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [191822]
I give as follows the figures for the Serious Fraud Office and HMCPS Inspectorate. The figures for the Crown Prosecution Service were included in the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October. The Treasury Solicitor has no staff in Yorkshire and Humberside.
York Elsewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside Total York Elsewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside Total 1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 0 0 11 — 11 2001 0 4 4 11 — 11 2002 0 4 4 11 — 11 2003 0 4 4 11 — 11 2004 — 3 3 11 — 11
Culture, Media and Sport
Formula One
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had on the future of Formula One racing. [195603]
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no recent discussions about the future of Formula One racing. However, the East Midlands Development Agency is currently leading discussions on behalf of the Government about the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and developments around the circuit. Furthermore, the Government recently invested £16 million into motorsport, including Formula One, to ensure that the motorsport industry maintained and enhanced its position in an increasingly competitive global market.
Royal Palaces
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists visited the Royal Palaces in each of the last five years. [192642]
The following table shows visitor numbers to the Royal Palaces for each of the last five years:
Thousand
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Occupied Royal Palaces 1,924 1,735 1,476 1,918 1,836 Historic Royal Palaces 3,358 3,185 2,823 2,891 2,762 Osborne House (managed by English Heritage) 267 237 264 230 231
Tourism
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the views expressed by the London Development Agency regarding the accessibility of London's hotels, shops and attractions to people with disabilities; and if she will assess the impact of such a lack of accessibility on the £100 billion target value for the tourism industry by 2010. [195210]
Tourism in London is the responsibility of the Mayor of London, and accessibility is embedded in the London Development Agency's (LDA's) Action Plan for tourism. I welcome the commitment of the Mayor and the LDA to making London as accessible as possible for all visitors, including those with disabilities, the elderly and families with young children. This can only work for the benefit of the tourism industry and the achievement of the Government's target for 2010.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support is available from her Department to assist (a) small hotels, (b) guest houses and (c) other tourism businesses to enhance the skills of employees. [195225]
Support for skills training for the tourism sector is one of the key priority work areas set out in Tomorrow's Tourism Today, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched in July.
DCMS does not directly fund skills training, which is an issue for regional and local institutions, but we are the sponsoring department for People 1st, the new sector skills council for the tourism and hospitality industries. People 1st received its charter earlier this year and I am pleased to note the excellent progress it is making in forging regional skills alliances to map training provision and need. It will have a strategic role in tracking all the funding schemes for skills training and ensuring that provision responds to employer demand.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support is available from her Department to assist (a) small hotels, (b) guest houses and (c) other tourism businesses to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [195262]
Visit Britain's National Accessible Scheme (NAS) was established in 1999 to help hotels, guesthouses and self-catering accommodation to improve access and quality for those with hearing, mobility and visual impairment. It includes a self-assessment pack, which businesses can complete to see where improvements should be made to improve access.
The Department has also agreed to pay a grant of £15,000 to Tourism for All for their Holiday Care information service in 2004–05. Tourism for All provides an important service to disabled people and helps the tourism industry to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.
Education and Skills
A-level Mathematics
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(1) what discussions he has had with the Royal Society of Chemistry concerning the adequacy of A-level mathematics for undergraduate chemists; [195636]
(2) what plans he has to review the A-level mathematics syllabus to place greater emphasis on the needs of future science undergraduates; [195637]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Royal Society regarding the adequacy of the mathematics A-level for undergraduate scientists; and if he will make a statement; [195638]
(4) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the mathematics A-level for students undertaking undergraduate chemistry; and if he will make a statement. [195639]
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not responsible for reviewing the adequacy or otherwise of the content of an A-level specification. It is for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to determine content in discussion with interested parties including HE institutions, subject and professional associations, employers, awarding bodies and providers.
Access Agreements
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills further to the answer of 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1271W, on guidance on access agreements, whether he expects the Director of Fair Access to publish the guidance to institutions on access agreements; and if he will put a copy of such guidance in the Library. [195383]
I expect the Director's guidance to institutions on access agreements to be available publicly and I will place a copy in the Library when it is available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what factors he expects the Director for Fair Access to take account of in evaluating the milestones of individual universities; and whether the Director will make public his policy on (a) the milestones he will expect universities to include in their access agreement and (b) how he will ascertain whether milestones are stretching enough under paragraph 6.6.2 of the guidance given by the Secretary of State. [194836]
It will be for the Director to determine what factors he will take account of in evaluating institutions' own milestones, in the light of the Secretary of State's letter of guidance. The Director will issue guidance to institutions on access agreements in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what data he expects higher education institutions to draw upon in setting milestones for their access agreements under the provisions of paragraph 6.6.1 of his guidance to the Director of the Office for Fair Access. [194832]
The milestones will be the institutions' own. They may draw on a range of data.
Capital Funding
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department paid to Capita in respect of (a) outsourcing and (b) consultancy work in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 (iii) 2003–04 and (iv) 2004–05. [195048]
holding answer 1 November 2004
Records of major individual service contracts show the following expenditure with Capita in financial years 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 to date.
£000 2001–02 41,725 2002–03 24,679 2003–04 30,477 2004–05 17,346
My Department does not hold a central record of individual agreements, and information relating to consultancy work could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Class Sizes (West Suffolk)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average (a) middle school and (b) upper school class size in the West Suffolk constituency was in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2003–04. [194988]
The information requested is given in the table.
Maintained secondary schools: Average class size(1), West Suffolk parliamentary constituency(2)
1997 2004 Middle Number of pupils 3,120 3,750 Number of classes 140 160 Average class size 23.1 24.0 Upper Number of pupils 2,440 2,390 Number of classes 140 120 Average class size 17.5 19.4 Total Number of pupils 5,570 6,130 Number of classes 280 280 Average class size 20.2 22.0
(1) Classes taught by ore teacher during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
(2) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.
Source:
Annual Schools Census.
Compulsory Testing (Wales)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will assess the merits of introducing in England the changes to compulsory testing in schools in Wales made by the Welsh Assembly. [195581]
We are aware of the recent consultation by the Welsh Assembly on changes to assessment arrangements in Wales. In England we have listened to sensible concerns about testing at the end of Key Stage 1 and have introduced reforms this year so that the results of standard tasks and tests are combined with the teacher's assessment in one comprehensive judgment. But we continue to believe that national curriculum tests at the end of Key Stages 2 and 3 provide an effective and objective means of assessing all pupils in England on a consistent basis against national standards. They assure the accountability of schools to parents and taxpayers and help inform parents and teachers about each child's progress.
Departmental Policies (South Dorset)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the South Dorset constituency, the effects of changes to departmental policy since 1997 on the South Dorset constituency. [194970]
The constituency South Dorset lies within Dorset local education authority. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) provides information by constituency, through the "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea.
This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government office region. England figures are also provided
The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including literacy and numeracy at age 11, literacy and numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, pupils with special educational needs, school initiatives, school work force, school funding and resources, children's social services, early years, class sizes, post 16, higher education and adult education
Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The inyourarea website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about adult education, school funding, school initiatives, school performance, school work force and post 16.
Departmental Staff
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent jobs (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies had in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (ii) the City of York in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available. [191837]
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1053W.
Disabled Students Allowance
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have benefited from the disabled students' allowance in each of the last three years; how much has been spent in total on these students (a) in England and (b) broken down by local education authority; and if he will make a statement. [194784]
Data on disabled students' allowance (DSA) payments made by local education authorities (LEAs) for English domiciled students are shown in the first table. Data on DSA payments made by the Open University (OU) are shown in the second table.
Academic year Student numbers (Thousand) Expenditure (£ million) 2000/01 28 42 2001/02 35 40 2002/03 44 50
Data are collected from the LEAs to produce national estimates. The data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level, and therefore data by LEA are not available.
Calendar year English domiciled Welsh and Northern Ireland domiciled Expenditure (£ million) 2001 1,039 61 2.6 2002 1,438 92 2.7 2003 2,002 151 3.4
The OU's academic year is consistent with a calendar year. The OU records aggregate expenditure on DSAs for English, Welsh and Northern Ireland students.
Drug Awareness Programmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent within the Greater London area on drug awareness programmes in each of the last five years. [195377]
Figures for local drug awareness programmes are not held centrally. However, the Department has allocated funding to Greater London local education authorities (LEAs) to support drug education, awareness and prevention in schools, as detailed in the following table:
£ million 1999–2000 1 2000–01 25(3) 2001–02 2 2002–03 2 2003–04 2
(3) Drug Prevention was part of a larger grant which included Social Inclusion and the Youth Service.
These figures include both Government and local authority contributions. LEAs and schools are also free to spend on drug awareness programmes from within their own budgets.
A new cross Government grant, Young People Substance Misuse Partnership Grant, for 2004–05 supports drug education, prevention and early intervention for young people. The total allocated to London through the grant this year is £12.7million.
Free Milk Scheme
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the (a) set up and (b) recurrent annual cost of providing free chilled milk to all children at Key Stages (i) 1 and (ii) 2. [195747]
The Milk Development Council has helped us develop estimates. It is likely that set up costs would be around £21 million, and the cost of providing milk each year would be around £65 million. This estimate includes the EU school milk subsidy, but excludes any amount for repair and depreciation of equipment.
Higher Education Costs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost was of an undergraduate degree in each of the universities in the UK in the last year for which figures are available. [191506]
The data requested are not available. Universities and higher education colleges receive their funding as block grant through the funding councils. This includes funding for teaching and research. For students at institutions in England, total funding for teaching is based on the number of planned publicly funded students in the sector and for 2004–05 is on average £5,3001 . This protects the unit of funding per student and helps maintain the quality of the student experience.
1 As published in Table 2.7 of the Departmental Report for the Department of Education and Skills 2004.
Home-School Distances
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils lived more than three miles from the school that they attended on the latest date for which data are available. [195143]
The information requested is shown in the following table:
Number and percentage of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools who live more than three miles from the school they attend, January 2004(4)
Number Percentage Primary(5) 156,806 3.7 Secondary(5) 588,699 17.8
(4) Measured as a straight line distance.
(5) Includes middle schools as deemed.
Source:
Pupil Level Annual Schools Census 2004.
New Schools (Lambeth)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are being used in assessing the Building Schools for the Future bid in Lambeth. [195138]
The criteria for assessing all Building Schools for the Future bid are those published in the guidance issued to local authorities in July 2003, namely that bids are prioritised in accordance with educational and social need, (as defined by GCSE rates of attainment and eligibility levels for free school meals) moderated by programming efficiency requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that future demand for new school places in Lambeth is met. [195139]
The DfES is committed to ensuring that all parents have a choice of good schools for their children to attend. Historically, there has been a lack of provision of secondary school places in Lambeth, with up to 50 per cent. of Lambeth residents being educated outside the borough. In addition, population growth in London means that we will be providing 20 new schools in the capital over five years, concentrated in areas where there are currently large outflows of secondary pupils to other parts of London. Consequently, there are plans to increase provision in Lambeth substantially, to absorb demographic growth and to enable Lambeth residents to be educated locally. The Lambeth Academy, opened by Her Majesty the Queen on 26 October 2004 as a wholly new school, already provides extra places for 180 children each year. We are planning with Lambeth to make further significant increases in provision in the borough, as outlined in our joint document "A Vision for Lambeth Schools", which includes plans for at least two further wholly new schools.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals there are to improve the existing buildings of Lambeth's secondary schools. [195197]
Chapter 4 of our "Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners", published in July 2004, sets out eight key reforms for secondary schools, five of which concern their buildings. Every secondary school which is up to the standard should be a specialist school, which triggers a capital grant for specialist facilities. All secondary schools will have the freedom, as foundation schools, to own their land and buildings and manage their assets, if they wish. We have introduced dedicated capital funding to encourage more places in popular schools. We will expand the academies programme to provide for 200 by 2010. Every secondary school will be refurbished or rebuilt to a modern standard through Building Schools for the Future.
Office for Fair Access
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations he is carrying out regarding the appointment of an independent person or panel responsible for reviewing the decisions of the Office for Fair Access on appeal by the universities; who will appoint the independent person or panel; whether there is a requirement of political neutrality on the part of the independent person or panel; and what his timetable is for the creation of such a body. [194196]
A consultation document was issued earlier this month to interested parties, including Universities UK, on how the review procedure might work in practice. The Secretary of State will make the appointment, in accordance with the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies, as set out the regulations recently approved by Parliament. The usual requirements concerning political activity will apply. The Secretary of State expects to make an appointment before the Director of Fair Access makes his first formal decisions.
Part-time Students
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of undergraduate students at higher education institutions in England are part-time students. [194774]
The latest available figures are shown in the table.
Undergraduate students at English HE institutions 2002/03(6)
Number Percentage Full-time 893,900 67 Part-time 434,700 33 Total 1,328,600 100
(6) Covers students normally domiciled in the UK, and those from overseas. Includes students at the Open University.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the income that higher education institutions will receive from employer contributions to undergraduate part-time student fees in 2006–07. [194775]
Part-time fees are unregulated; higher education institutions set the fee level for their part-time courses. The income that institutions receive will depend on the level of fees they set and the take-up of places. Data on the income received by institutions from employer contributions specifically are not available centrally.
SATs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received in the past 12 months about the effectiveness of SATs. [195612]
265 representations have been received in the past 12 months about the national curriculum tests. Of these, 32 were about the content and format of the tests; 60 about the effects of testing; 27 seeking the abolition of testing; and 146 about the administration and marking of the tests. Of these 146, 83 related to Key Stage 3 English and 26 to Key Stage 2 English.
Schools (Bury)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Bury in each of the last 10 years; what his estimate is for each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [195406]
The information requested for the years 1993–94 to 2002–03 is given in the table. The Department is currently collecting the information for 2003–04. The information for 2004–05 is not due to be collected until October 2005.
School based expenditure(7) per pupil(8) in primary and secondary schools in Bury in each of the last 10 years 3, 4 -- £
Year 3, 4 Primary education(11) Pre-primary and primary education5, 6 Secondary education 1993–94 (13) 1,440 2,000 1994–95 (13) 1,480 2,040 1995–96 (13) 1,520 2,080 1996–97 (13) 1,570 2,150 1997–98(14) (13) 1,490 2,160 1998–99(15) (13) 1,640 2,330 1999–2000 1,780 1,800 2,500 2000–01 2,010 2,040 2,650 2001–02 2,180 2,220 2,810 2002–03 2,220 (13) 2,900
(7) School-based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
(8) Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
(9) 1999–2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DfES. 2002–03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The figures in italics indicate the change in sources. In 2002–03 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 2001–02 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines 1 to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table 3 for 1999–00 to 2001–02 and from the RO1 form previously.
(10) The 2002–03 calculation is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001–02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses, while in 2002–03 only the schools element of these categories is included. In 2001–02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil of the England total, while the schools element of these categories accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the England total in 2002–03. Also, for some LEAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LEA part of the form in 2002–03 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
(11) Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999–2000.
(12) School-based expenditure in nursery schools was not recorded in 2002–03.
(13) Not available.
(14) Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99.
(15) The 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Data is as reported by the LEA in cash terms.
Student Fees/Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(1) what review is taking place of the cost of student fees for students from Commonwealth countries who wish to study here; and if he will make a statement; [193488]
(2) what plans his Department has to bring the cost of student fees for students from Commonwealth countries wishing to study here into line with the fees students from a member state of the European Union pay; and if he will make a statement. [193492]
We have no plans to bring the cost of fees paid by students from Commonwealth countries into line with the fees paid by students from a member state of the European Union. The Government offer scholarships to Commonwealth students through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and the Shared Scholarship Scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(1) what discussions he has had with Student Finance Direct with regard to the delayed payment of student loans; and if he will make a statement; [193778]
(2) what information he has received concerning delays in education authorities assessing entitlement to student grants and payment of fees. [193779]
Some 800,000 applications for student finance had been received by 18 October, 521,000 of which were received on or before 2 July 2004 (which is the published deadline for new applications).
All applicants who submitted a fully and properly completed application form on or before 2 July should receive, shortly after their university or college confirms their attendance, either a fully-assessed loan payment or an interim payment (under our contingency arrangements for continuing students). Some 13,000 interim payments have been made to date and these students will receive full assessments and a further loan payment (if appropriate) within a few weeks. A further 700 interim payments are scheduled for release once confirmation of the relevant students' attendance is received from the appropriate institutions.
Over 279,000 applications have been received since the deadline passed, of which fewer than 89,000 applications are still being processed. As is the case every year, a significant number of students have applied well after the published deadlines (over 94,000 applications have been received since early September). Local authorities and the Student Loans Company have never been able to guarantee payment at the start of term to late applicants. The Student Loans Company has paid out over 549,000 loans to date, with a further 80,000 fully approved and scheduled for payment as soon as the students' attendance is confirmed by their institution.
There has been some local variation in the speed with which some individual local education authorities have been able to process applications, but the Department and the SLC have worked closely with the LEAs affected to ensure that students are not disadvantaged. The vast majority of LEAs are now processing late applications within a maximum of six weeks, which is the normal service standard set by the Department. As in previous years, the Department has written to higher education institutions asking them to be supportive of students who do not have loans in place at the start of term.
Student Numbers
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(1) how many students were enrolled in full-time higher education courses at UK universities and colleges in each year since 1990; how many of those students were from other EU countries; and how many were from outside the EU; [193669]
(2) how many students from other EU countries studied at UK universities in each year since 1997; what the aggregate cost of tuition was for those students; and how much those students and their sponsors contributed towards that cost. [193670]
holding answer 25 October 2004
The student figures are shown in the table. The Department does not have either the aggregate cost of tuition for EU domiciled students at British universities or the private contribution to fees of these students.
Full-time undergraduate students in the UK(16)
Academic year Total students UK EU Other overseas 1990/91 663,500 612,300 17,800 33,300 1991/92 747,700 690,400 22,400 34,900 1992/93 852,800 789,300 27,100 36,400 1993/94 948,600 875,800 32,900 39,900 1994/95 1,009,000 924,400 41,100 43,500 1995/96 1,048,400 947,000 51,700 49,700 1996/97 1,076,100 963,000 59,300 53,800 1997/98 1,107,300 984,400 65,500 57,300 1998/99 1,114,200 991,800 66,900 55,600 1999/2000 1,109,000 988,000 65,100 55,900 2000/01 1,115,800 994,900 61,300 59,600 2001/02 1,138,700 1,016,700 55,800 66,200 2002/03 1,174,600 1,046,200 52,200 76,200
(16) Covers HE students studying at universities, HE institutions and FE colleges.
Note:
Figures may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Teacher Absence
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the impact of stress-related sickness on teacher absences; and if he will make a statement. [195142]
The Department collects information centrally on the number of teachers taking sickness absence, but not on the cause. The most recent figures show that in 2003 the average number of days lost to sickness absence was 5.4. This compares favourably with other occupations in both the public and private sectors. We nevertheless have a range of measures to ensure that teacher health and well-being is taken seriously, which include a focus on tackling sources of stress and excessive workload. Research conducted for the Department in the autumn term of 1999 by the School of Education at the University of Cambridge found that colds, influenza and associated respiratory tract infections were reported to be the most important causes of teachers' absence, followed by upset stomach, headache and stress or depression.
Tuition Fees
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been recovered in fees from students dropping out from a course of higher education (a) in total and (b) from those dropping out in the first year of their course, in each year since 1997. [194193]
Payments are made to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in respect of tuition fees grants for those students confirmed to be in attendance three months after the beginning of their course. No payment is made in respect of those who have left a course within three months of the beginning of the academic year. No money is recovered from HEIs for those students who subsequently withdraw after three months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount paid per student in respect of tuition fees has been in each year since their inception. [194194]
New student support arrangements came into effect at the start of academic year 1998/99 when new entrants to higher education were expected to contribute towards the cost of their tuition. The amount of the contribution depends on family income.
The average amount paid per student from public funds in respect of tuition fees for English and Welsh domiciled students for academic years 1998/99 to 2002/03 (latest year for which data are available) are shown in the table:
Average LEA/SLC fee expenditure per student (rounded to nearest £10) 1,2
Academic year Student support scheme students(19) 1998/99 590 1999/2000 550 2000/01 510 2001/02 530 2002/03 530
(17) Includes placement year sandwich students. For student support scheme students, the maximum fee contribution for these students was £540 in 2002/03.
(18) Public expenditure on fees assessed for payment from public funds. In 1998/99 these payments were made by LEAs; from 1999/2000 these payments in respect of student support scheme students were made by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
(19) Students starting their course from 1998/99 under the new arrangements.
Source:
Form F503G survey of local education authorities
National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 12/2004 for 2002/03). Updated data for academic years 2003/04 and 2004/05 will be published by the SLC in November 2004 (SLC SFR 01/2004).
University Admissions
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(1) what plans he has to review the benchmarks for university admissions based on (a) state schools and (b) socio-economic status; and if he will make a statement; [192930]
(2) what plans the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has for additional benchmarks for universities; what consultations HEFCE carries out in respect of benchmarks; and whether he expects the Director of the Office for Fair Access to be included in such consultations. [193568]
The Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG) is the body which approves the content and methodology of the Performance Indicators (PIs) and associated benchmarks. The PISG is chaired by HEFCE (The Higher Education Funding Council for England), and includes representatives from Universities UK, the Standing Conference of Principals, and HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency). Individual Higher Education Institutions are notified of their provisional PIs well before publication and are able to comment and take up any issues with the HESA, and/or the HEFCE prior to publication. Suggestions for new PIs can come from a variety of sources and are considered by the PISG for approval. The White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" said that the Government favoured moving towards more sensitive indicators and I am in discussion with HEFCE about how best to do this. I am also looking at the benchmarks to see if there is any way they can be improved or better understood. There are no plans to consult with the Director of OFFA in relation to performance indicators or benchmarks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reports he has received on the milestones presently in existence for universities in respect of their admissions; whether he plans to publish them; by what means they are publicly available; and whether he expects to be informed by universities of changes in their milestones. [194950]
The access agreements that institutions will have from 2006 with the Director of Fair Access will include the institutions' own milestones, or measures of success. The milestones may draw on a range of data. Access agreements will be published. The Secretary of State has not received any report in respect of these milestones. These milestones are separate from the Performance Indicators that were published recently by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Published annually, these current indicators provide comparative data on the performance of institutions in widening participation, student retention, learning and teaching outcomes and research output. They cover publicly funded higher education institutions in the UK.
Home Department
Airwave
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implementation of Airwave technology to the police force. [195477]
The rollout of Airwave is progressing well. It is currently available in 41 forces with 78,000 live users to date. Users report excellent coverage and clarity of signal. All forces in England, Scotland and Wales are expected to be using Airwave by mid-2006.
Animal Testing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek the setting up of a Royal Commission to (a) review the (i) effectiveness of and (ii) justification for animal experiments and (b) examine alternatives set out in the document, New Life for Animals published by the Labour Party in 1997. [192905]
The Government have no plans to do so. Although we have not ruled out a Royal Commission, in the light of the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures, published in July 2002, we do not believe that a Royal Commission, or other form of public inquiry, would serve any useful purpose at the present time. The Select Committee concluded that there is at present a continuing need for animal experiments both in applied research to develop human and veterinary medicine and to protect humans and the environment, and in research aimed purely at extending knowledge. The Government endorsed this conclusion in our response to the Select Committee report published in January 2003. Instead, we would rather use the available resources to make continuing improvements to the operation of the 1986 Act and to promote the fullest application of the 3Rs—replacing the use of animals with alternative methods; reducing the number of animals needed for a particular purpose and refining the procedures to minimise suffering.
In this latter regard, earlier this year we announced the creation of a new national centre for replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research (NC3Rs) building on the existing Medical Research Council Centre for Best Practice in Animal Research (CBPAR). The national centre's mission is to advance and promote the 3Rs in research and testing using animals. Responsibility for the national centre rests with the Office of Science and Technology.
Antisocial Behaviour
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) acceptable behaviour contracts, (b) curfew orders, (c) parenting orders, (d) dispersal orders, (e) fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour and (f) antisocial behaviour orders have been issued by (i) South Wales Police, (ii) Bridgend Division of South Wales Police and (iii) Rhondda Cynon Taff Division of South Wales Police. [193349]
The information is as follows:
Thursday 28 October, show that 5,383 contracts have been signed in England and Wales. These data are not broken down by force but show that 219 ABCs have been agreed within Wales.Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)—statistics on the use of ABCs are not routinely collected centrally. However, snapshot figures, from the National Survey on Antisocial Behaviour, released on
Curfew Orders—Table A shows the number of Curfew orders with and without electronic monitoring made at courts in each of the petty sessional areas in South Wales (including those made at the Crown court if committed there by magistrates courts in South Wales) from 1999 to 2002.
Statistics for 2003 will be available later in the year.
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.
31 March 2004. Data are given by Youth Offending Team area.Parenting Orders—Youth Justice Board figures are given in Table B by financial year up to
Thursday 28 October 2004, show that a total of 418 dispersal orders have been made to tackle the problem of intimidating groups in England and Wales between January and September 2004. These data are not broken down by police force area but figures indicate that 11 have been issued in Wales.Dispersal Orders—Results from the National Survey of Anti-Social Behaviour, published on
Fixed Penalty Notices for disorder—Complete information on the numbers issued is not available.
30 June 2004 (latest available), by all courts and where restrictions have been imposed for a specific local authority area. Data are not available at divisional police force level.Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)—Table C shows the number of ASBOs issued within South Wales, as notified to the Home Office, up to
Table A: Number of persons given curfew orders1,2 in South Wales, 1999 to 2002
Petty sessional area 1999 2000 2001 2002 Cardiff 2 6 15 37 Cynon Valley — — — 5 Merthyr Tydfil — 1 — 7 Miskin — — 6 12 Neath and Port Talbot 1 12 10 23 Newcastle and Ogmore 2 8 17 20 Swansea — 9 17 40 Vale of Glamorgan 3 7 4 23 Total 8 43 69 167
(20) Electronic and non-electronic orders.
(21) Based on principal offence.
Source:
Home Office Court Proceedings Database
Table B: Number of Parenting Orders, issued within South Wales, by Youth Offending Team area, 2000 to 2004
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Bridgend 0 1 1 12 Cardiff 0 1 3 2 Merthyr Tydfil 0 1 0 0 Neath Port Talbot 0 0 0 0 Rhondda Cynon Taff 0 0 1 0 Swansea 0 0 1 1 Vale of Glamorgan 0 18 0 0 Total 0 21 6 15
Source:
Youth Justice Board
Table C: Number of ASBOs, as notified to the Home Office by all courts within South Wales, where restrictions have been imposed for a specific local authority area, 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2004 (latest available)
Local authority area Total issued South Wales 52 of which from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa 0 from 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2004 by unitary authority area 52 Cardiff CC 20 Merthyr Tydfil CBC 10 Neath Port Talbot County BC 10 Rhondda Cynon Taff County BC 9 Swansea CC 2 Vale of Glamorgan Council 1
Note:
Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only.
Source:
ASBO database
To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued to young (a) men and (b) women in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [191963]
The available information is given in the table.
Number of notifications reported to the Home Office, by magistrates courts and the Crown court, of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued, by age group, from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, England and Wales(22)
Age Male Female 18–20 200 16 21–25 106 33 Total 306 49
(22) Excludes ASBOs issued at the county courts because date of birth details are not supplied.
Association of Chief Police Officers
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is provided with copies of (a) memoranda and (b) policy guidance issued to chief constables by the Association of Chief Police Officers. [194128]
Non-sensitive memoranda and policy guidance is published by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on their public website.
Additionally, memoranda and policy guidance may be provided to the Secretary of State for the Home Department when requested or when considered of interest, and in practice, the vast majority of literature is copied to relevant policy sections.
Badger Baiting
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions against badger baiters there have been in each of the last five years. [195350]
The information requested is not available centrally.
Bail Hostels
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) occupancy rates and (b) running costs for each bail hostel in the west midlands in each of the past five years. [188007]
holding answer 13 September 2004
(a) No published data are available on the occupancy rates of approved probation and bail hostels (approved premises). (b) The West Midlands Probation Board have advised the Home Office of the following information on running costs for approved premises.
Expenditure of west midlands approved premises -- £000
Approved premises 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Bilston 221 271 365 354 382 Carpenter House 219 274 364 349 432 Crowley House 264 307 389 386 454 Elliott House 297 346 400 421 485 Stonnal Road 207 273 316 319 361 Sycamore Lodge 266 327 449 442 574 Welford House 275 296 381 384 439 Total 1,749 2,094 2,664 2,655 3,127
Notes:
1. After 1 April 2001, approved premises received 100 per cent. grant from the Home Office, including housing benefit. Prior to this they received 20 per cent. of their funding from local authorities, and housing benefit direct.
2. With effect from 1 October 2002 property costs were included in the budgets.
CCTV
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the Government have invested in CCTV systems in local authorities covering the Greater London area. [194142]
The Home Office provided a total of £33.44 million to local authorities in Greater London for Closed Circuit Television schemes through the Crime Reduction Programme's CCTV initiative.
This was broken down as:
CCTV Round 1: Local authorities in Greater London were awarded £19.49 million for CCTV.
CCTV Round 2: Local authorities in Greater London were awarded £16.95 million for CCTV.
Since the completion of the Crime Reduction Programme, crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRPs) through the Building Safer Communities fund and to Basic Command Unit (BCD) commanders through the BCU fund. These funding streams fund a variety of interventions, including CCTV, to tackle local crime priorities. Information about the interventions funded is not held centrally.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in West Lancashire since 1997. [171721]
The Home Office has provided a total of £884,404 to West Lancashire for Close Circuit Television schemes through the Crime Reduction Programme's CCTV initiative.
This breaks down as:
Under CCTV Round 1, West Lancashire was awarded £166,948 for CCTV in Ormskirk Town Centre.
Under CCTV Round 2, West Lancashire was awarded £696,703 followed by an additional £20,753 to provide a network of cameras in priority rural and urban locations across the borough, incorporating public transport and "hard to reach" areas.
All funding was claimed.
Other crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Basic Command Unit in West Lancashire to fund a variety of interventions, included CCTV. Information about the allocation of that funding is not held centrally.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in Burnley since 1997. [168317]
As part of the Crime Reduction Programme, Burnley claimed £198,526 to extend the existing CCTV coverage to Padiham, enhance the current town centre scheme and relocate the control room.
Other crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Basic Command Unit in Burnley to fund a variety of interventions, included CCTV. Information about the allocation of that funding is not held centrally.
Correspondence
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire of 26 May, 1 July and 12 August, regarding a constituent, Mrs. Babur. [190865]
holding answer 14 October 2004
I wrote to the right hon. Member on 3 November.
Crime (Tamworth)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful criminal prosecutions were brought for crimes perpetrated in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997; and how many criminal charges were pressed for crimes perpetrated in the Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997. [188112]
Statistics for defendants charged with offences are not collected centrally, nor is it possible to break down the court proceedings data collected centrally to constituency level.
The following table, however, gives the number of defendants(a) convicted and (b) not convicted in the Staffordshire police force area as a whole.
Defendants convicted and those not convicted of offences of all types at all courts in the Staffordshire police force area, 1997 to 2002
Defendants convicted Defendants not convicted(23) 1997 31,504 10,119 1998 33,009 9,256 1999 29,562 8,734 2000(24) 21,514 7,737 2001 16,783 6,948 2002 18,891 7,280
(23) Includes defendants whose proceedings were discontinued, those discharged under section 6 MCA 1980, and those, whose charges were withdrawn, dismissed or acquitted.
(24) Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis.
Statistics for 2003 will be published in November.
DNA Database
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an assessment has been made of the usefulness of the DNA database. [194872]
An assessment of the usefulness of the National DNA Database has been carried out through the on-going evaluation of the Home Office DNA Expansion Programme. The programme was set up in April 2000 to fund police forces to increase the collection of offender DNA samples and facilitate the build up of DNA profiles on the database. It also funds the retrieval of more DNA material left by offenders at crime scenes. It has provided £182.6 million to police forces between April 2000 and March 2004 in addition to £19 million per annum approximately from forces' own budgets. The majority of the £182.6 million is used by forces to cover the costs of processing DNA samples in forensic laboratories and the cost of 650 additional Scenes of Crime and Intelligence Staff and equipment.
The programme's target was to hold a DNA profile for all known active suspect offenders on the database by March 2004 (it held 760,000 DNA profiles from suspect offenders in April 2000). This was achieved. There are currently 2.73 million DNA profiles taken from 2.45 million suspected offenders on the database (as at end September 2004), the great majority of known active suspect offenders. The UK now leads the world in terms of its ability to identify offenders and eliminate suspects by using a DNA database.
Police data returns show that there were over 45,200 DNA "offender-to-scene" matches in 2003–04. The chance of a match with a subject profile when a crime scene profile is first added to the database is now about 45 per cent. The match rate increases to about 70 per cent. when matches obtained later as new subject profiles are loaded and included.
Evaluation of the DNA Expansion Programme has shown that the database can make a significant contribution to crime detection by linking DNA evidence found at crime scenes to offenders and significantly increasing the probability of crime detection. Where crime scene DNA is added to the database the rate of detection can be significantly increased. In 2003–04, the overall detection rate was 23 per cent. but where DNA was successfully recovered from a crime scene and loaded on to the National DNA Database the detection rate rose to 43 per cent.
The DNA detection rates for volume crime show striking increases—as shown in the table.
Percentage
Crime category National DNA rate All recorded crime 23 43 Domestic burglary 15 45 Burglary OTD 10 53 Theft of vehicle 13 26 Theft from vehicle 6 54
Evaluation of the impact of the programme and of the usefulness of the database is continuing in 2004–05.
Great Gorilla Run
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2004, Official Report, column 412W, on the Great Gorilla Run, how many police were provided to redirect traffic during the Great Gorilla Run in London on 19 September; how many roads were closed; and how many diversions were created. [194656]
No roads were closed and no diversions were created as a result of the Great Gorilla Run. I understand that five police officers were present during the event in a public safety capacity.
Hate Crime
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will amend legislation on hate crimes against (a) people with disabilities and (b) gay, lesbian and bisexual people to make it as extensive as that which applies to hate crimes on the grounds of race and religion; and if he will make a statement. [186890]
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides that where criminal offences are motivated by prejudice or hostility against the victim's sexual orientation or disability, as well as race or religion, the courts should treat this as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
This is to act as a deterrent and so help protect these groups from harassment and attack, as well as sending a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable in our society.
The Government work continuously to ensure that legislation meets the needs of society, and will continue to keep under review the protection offered to different groups.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Merseyside Police's Hate Crime Policy. [146244]
Merseyside Police Hate Crime policy was originally produced as a result of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry in 1999. The policy offers procedural guidance in the identification of hate crime/incidents and the reporting, recording and investigation of such crime/ incidents. The policy also includes information in respect of the third party reporting process and a self-reporting process.
The policy was formally launched in February 2003 and then internally reviewed in March 2004. The good practice contained within the policy has been recognised by several other forces, including the authors of the Association of Chief Police Officers hate crime policy. This policy has been created by Merseyside Police and is their responsibility.
Indymedia
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what (a) grounds and (b) legal authority the web servers of the news agency Indymedia were seized on 7 October. [193709]
I can only confirm that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter. I am not at liberty to discuss the specific case in more detail.
Knife Crimes
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of reported crimes were (a) injured and (b) killed by knives or other bladed weapons in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [193041]
Information on victims of recorded crime injured by knives is not collected centrally. The British Crime Survey (BCS) collects information on the use of weapons in violent incidents, whether or not the incident was reported to the police.
The 2002–03 BCS estimates that weapons were used in 26 per cent. of violent incidents. A knife was used in 8 per cent. of violent incidents, and another type of stabbing implement was used in 2 per cent. of violent incidents (more than one type of weapon could be used in an incident). These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2002–03 Supplementary Tables: Nature of burglary, vehicle and violent crime, an internet only publication available at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0203_tables_bvv.html
However the use of a weapon does not necessarily mean that injuries were sustained as the weapon may have been used to threaten the victim. No data is available from the BCS on injuries caused by a weapon, only on injuries sustained in violent incidents generally.
Injuries were sustained in 50 per cent. of violent incidents in the 2003–04 BCS. Cuts were sustained in 14 per cent. of violent incidents where injury occurred (more than one type of injury could have occurred); however these were not necessarily caused by a weapon. These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2003–04.
Statistics on victims of homicide killed with a sharp instrument are published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest available figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002–03: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime".
For 2002–03, there were 272 currently recorded homicides where the method of killing involved a sharp instrument.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to review (a) sentencing for and (b) provisions for deterrence of crimes using knives and other bladed weapons; and if he will make a statement. [193043]
We are conducting an analysis of the nature of knife related crime and actions which can and should be taken to tackle it. This includes examining the legislation and penalties to deal with the possession or use of knives and offensive weapons.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a licensing system for owners of (a) swords, (b) machetes, (c) meat cleavers and (d) similar bladed instruments; and if he will make a statement. [193044]
Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 already prohibits the possession of an article with blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.
We have no plans to introduce a licensing system for these weapons. Many of these items are used legitimately and such a move would penalise law-abiding people. Licensing would also be expensive to administer and would involve the police in considerable extra work, which inevitably will affect their other policing priorities.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will implement a ban on carrying all kinds of knife other than for professional use. [193068]
Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 already prohibits the possession of an article with blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches. It is a defence for a person to prove that the article is for use at work, for religious reasons or as part of a national costume.
This legislation is kept under constant review but there are no plans to introduce legislation to prevent the carrying of folding pocket knives.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to tackle the problem of assaults on children involving knives. [193070]
It is unacceptable for young people to carry knives and the Government take their responsibility for public safety in this area extremely seriously. There is a range of legislation and police powers in place aimed at preventing the possession or use of knives and offensive weapons and this is kept under constant review to ensure it is comprehensive and effective.
It is essential to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of becoming involved in criminality associated with weapon-carrying and the Home Office funds and operates a number of community-based initiatives aimed at encouraging good citizenship and turning vulnerable young people away from crime.
Leicestershire Police
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has met the Chief Constable of Leicestershire police since January. [194374]
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has met the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary twice since January.
Metropolitan Police (Racism)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made by his Department in combating racism within the Metropolitan Police Force. [194156]
The Government and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) remain committed to combating racism within the MPS.
The MPS has made significant progress in combating racism as an organisation. It has acted robustly around the recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and continues to take a strong stance against any suggestion of racist behaviour.
The MPS were one of the first forces to adopt the new assessment procedures for police recruitment. The assessment centre tests candidates' attitudes to race and diversity at least seven times across the process, including at interview. Those who do not score sufficiently highly are not offered a job—irrespective of how well they do in the rest of the selection process.
Sir Bill Morris is currently chairing an inquiry into the conduct of the MPS in relation to: complaint, allegation and grievance matters, employment tribunal claims and the resolution of workplace conflicts. The MPS is not complacent and will continue to develop as an organisation in all fields of diversity and currently awaits the outcome of the Morris Inquiry as part of this development.
While the BBC programme "Secret Policeman" did not portray the MPS, the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis tasked Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur with undertaking a thorough review of practices within the MPS. The review made a number of recommendations that included issuing guidance on behaviour. In particular, recruits now sign a "Principles of Conduct" statement which clearly sets out the Met's expectations of individuals regarding their own and others' behaviour.
The MPS has also produced guidance for potential recruits and training school staff on appropriate behaviour, tolerance, respect and politeness. This puts a responsibility on new recruits and training school staff to eliminate and not tolerate racist behaviour.
National Offender Management Service
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the role of probation officers dealing with serious sex offenders will be included within the National Offender Management Service. [172842]
Offender managers will have responsibility for the full range of offenders, including serious sex offenders.
Overseas Corruption
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the cases on the register of allegations of overseas corruption offences have been categorised as requiring no further action. [194717]
The National Criminal Intelligence Service currently has 10 cases on the register of allegations of overseas corruption offences that have been categorised as requiring no further action.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the allegations on the register of allegations of overseas corruption offences have come from (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) the Export Credits Guarantee Department, (c) foreign jurisdictions, (d) Interpol, (e) local police stations within the UK (f) suspicious activity reports, (g) whistle-blowers and (h) other sources. [194685]
The register of allegations of overseas corruption offences is made up allegations from the following sources:
Number (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office 15 (b) Export Credits Guarantee Department 6 (c) Foreign jurisdictions 0 (d) Interpol 3 (e) Local police stations within the UK 0 (f) Suspicious activity reports 0 (g) Whistleblowers 0 (h) Other sources 13
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the National Criminal Intelligence Service has reported to the authorities of a foreign jurisdiction allegations of overseas corruption that they believe to be worthy of investigation. [194716]
At this time the National Criminal Intelligence Service has not reported any allegations of overseas corruption to any authorities for further investigation, other than to the appropriate UK law enforcement agencies.
Police
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the net expenditure on policing in England and Wales has been in each year since 1979, expressed in real terms at today's prices, broken down by police authority area in England and Wales. [190842]
Information in a common format has been available since 1990. Information for the years 1990–91 to 2003–04 has been placed in the Library.
Overall, police expenditure has increased in real terms by 38 per cent. since 1990–91.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his target number is for police officers per head of population in (a) urban and (b) rural areas. [193909]
No target is set by central Government for the number of police officers per head of population.
The Government have recognised the particular problems of policing sparsely populated areas. We are allocating an additional £30 million to 31 forces under the Rural Policing Fund. It is for the Chief Officer of Police to decide how he will deploy available resources to improve the policing of sparsely populated areas.
On 31 March 2004 there was 268 police officers to 100,000 population in England and Wales. Police/population ratios can be found on a force-by-force basis at Table 4 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 13/04 ("Police Service Strength—England and Wales, 31 March 2004") published on 29 September 2004.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the first phase of police reform; what the key elements of the second phase of police reform are; and what the timetable is for further developments on police reform. [194860]
The Government are engaged in a sustained programme of police reform which began with the publication of the white paper "Policing a New Century" in December 2001. The first phase of reform has produced real successes—a performance management culture has been embedded within the service; the National Intelligence Model has been implemented in all 43 forces ensuring an intelligence led approach to policing; we now have 4,000 Community Support Offices providing a visible, reassuring uniformed presence on the streets; we have a record 140,000 police officers and record investment in the service; and a major pay and conditions package has been implemented to provide a fairer, more flexible and modernised system of pay and rewards.
The Government will shortly publish a further white paper building on the first phase of reform and the broad endorsement for the direction of travel received in response to the November 2003 consultation "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together". The focus of this phase of reform will be around spreading a system of responsive neighbourhood policing throughout England and Wales and building a stronger customer service culture within policing. Further modernisation of the workforce and strengthened accountability mechanisms will help to deliver this vision.
Some of the proposals outlined in the paper will require legislation which will be taken forward as soon as parliamentary time allows. However, many of the changes can begin to be made immediately and the Government will work closely with police forces, authorities and other partners to take this forward.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Police Standards Unit. [194861]
The Police Standards Unit (PSU) was set up by the Home Secretary in June 2001 to help deliver the Government's commitment to raise standards and improve the operational performance of the police. The focus of PSU's activities is to:
measure and assess police forces' performance;
understand the underlying causes of performance variations;
provide support and focused assistance to forces where a problem with performance has been identified;
sponsor and disseminate proven good practice.
Performance management
PSU has driven the development of 'iQuanta', an on-line analysis tool for police performance data. Through iQuanta there is now timely data on the performance of all forces and Basic Command Units across all the major crime types. This data is also available to forces themselves and police authorities, who now have a means of holding forces to account. PSU's work on the audit of performance data has helped ensure accuracy and consistency in recording practices across forces.
The development of a National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR) should help measure and handle the police response to the weight of non-crime incidents more effectively.
The on-going development of the Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF) is helping to understand police performance in the round. PPAF has been accepted by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the APA as a fair means of assessing the complexities of police duties.
Operational support
PSU is engaged with seven under-performing or "target" forces: Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Nottinghamshire, Northants, and West Yorkshire. This proactive role has changed the dynamic of the Department's relationship with the police service, underpinned by a sound analytical and evidence-based footing, and demonstrating a new and effective way of doing business. Each engagement has been different. In some, PSU has helped a force's own improvement regime to go further and faster. In others, the unit has been a catalyst for change. In the third category, PSU's involvement has a more fundamental process of attempting to put the force on a path towards recovery.
In liaison with the ACPO, PSU launched the high profile, national Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign. This links in to the government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and aims to crack down on alcohol-fuelled disorder, as well as using tough enforcement measures to take action against irresponsible drinkers and vendors who are fuelling anti-social behaviour. This campaign was positively received and early data has provided a baseline to measure the impact and success of this.
PSU's work on national projects, such as Automatic Number-Plate Recognition (ANPR), National Video Identification (NVIS) and the Policing Priority Areas (PPAs) have been widely recognised as a success. In the period June 2003 to May 2004, during the ANPR project, 173,000 vehicles were stopped, 13,000 arrests made, 51,000 FPNs issued and £8 million property recovered. £1 million in hypothecated income has been generated and the rate of 100 arrests per full-time officer is 10 times the national average.
PSU's role in police use of forensic science has also been successful, in particular on DMA and NAFIS (Fingerprint Automation) and through reviewing and changing force-level forensic processes. This has helped the 62 per cent. increase in the number of DMA matches achieved and the 34 per cent. increase in the number of "DNA detections" delivered. PSD have led on the development of a computer simulation model for forces to identify blockages in their forensic processes. A work-package of good practice is to be disseminated to all forces.
Launched in March 2002, the Policing Priority Areas (PPA) Programme was aligned to the Government's Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and sites were first piloted in Bradford, Bristol, Camberwell, Rhyl and Stoke. Each has demonstrated how working with small communities suffering from crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour can bring about significant improvements in police and partnership working. This police-led programme has now been extended and there are now 29 identified sites. There has been significant success in reducing crime and providing public reassurance in the existing PPAs and the programme continues to build on the progress made so far.
Improving performance through applied knowledge for the policing community
PSU has established a Programme Board to bring together the main stakeholders: ACPO, HMIC, NCPE, PITO, as well as the Home Office Partnership and Regions Drugs Unit (PRDU), and Research, Development and Statistics (RDS). This will provide a forum for coordinating and driving forward our knowledge needs, and the roles of the key stakeholders have been mapped out to ensure that these fit together most effectively.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's main priorities are for the police in terms of science and technology. [194870]
The Government's priorities for the police's use of science and technology were first outlined in the Police Science and Technology Strategy 2003–2008, which was published by the Home Office in January 2003. A second strategy, which builds on the original and provides an updated position, was published in May 2004
The strategy identifies where science and technology can have the greatest impact on policing over the next five years. The priority applications for police science and technology set out in the strategy are, in order:
Identifying and eliminating threats to public safety, taking account of the increased risk of terrorist activity.
Effective use of intelligence-gathering technology.
Secure exchange of data between forces and other agencies.
Mobile data input and retrieval.
Maximising the value of evidence.
Effective management of investigations including the use of intelligent systems to assist decision-making.
Monitoring offenders that pose a threat.
Undertaking effective surveillance.
Effective location and recovery of evidence.
Protection of officers and vulnerable individuals.
The Strategy's key aims are:
to establish priorities for current and future science and technology applications and research,
to co-ordinate the development and implementation of technology between users and suppliers to ensure a coherent and effective process, and
to implement processes for future scanning to ensure that the police service can exploit new technology at the earliest opportunity and is prepared for new technology-based threats.
The strategy builds on the Government's key priorities for policing as laid out in the National Policing Plan 2004–07. It also provides a framework for forces, police authorities, and key providers like the Forensic Science Service, the Police Scientific Development Branch and Police Information Technology Organisation, to draw up their individual plans for the use of science and technology.
Copies of both editions of the Police Science and Technology Strategy can be found in the Library.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) work of and (b) resources available to the National Centre for Policing Excellence. [194903]
All of the work by the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) on doctrine development is subject to extensive consultation with the Home Office, as well as the Police Service and other key stakeholders.
The NCPE itself was inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) during summer 2003 as part of its overall inspection of Centrex, and a report was published in January 2004. Future inspection will be based on the result of monthly performance reports which will be submitted to HMIC, and an annual European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) self-assessment.
The NCPE is resourced from the overall grant-in-aid allocated to Centrex by the Home Office. This process is overseen by the Centrex Board, on which the Home Office are represented. The Home Office also allocate additional ring-fenced funding to the NCPE. In 2004–05 this additional funding amounts to £5 million. We are confident that the NCPE is adequately resourced in order to meet their key aims and objectives.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures will be introduced to address variations in training between police forces. [194905]
From summer 2005, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will collect information about training through its baseline assessment of all forces. This information will be analysed within HMIC and published on the internet. Any matters for concern in terms of trends, or individual forces being out of step with others, will be picked up by HMIC.
Within the Home Office, officials are working with key stakeholders and forces to facilitate collaboration between forces and common standards in training.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary on the most recent National Policing Plan. [194906]
To date, we have received no representations from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary on the draft National Policing Plan for 2005–08.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which major recommendations of the O'Dowd report on police bureaucracy remain unimplemented; and if he will make a statement on progress with implementation. [194910]
We have made good progress with implementing the recommendations of the O'Dowd report. Those outstanding mostly require legislation, developments in IT or wide-ranging changes to the criminal justice system.
Among our achievements to date, over 7,700 forms have been made obsolete across all 43 forces; all 43 forces now undertake video identity parades; over 72,000 police officers and staff now use Airwave radios in 40 forces; the national rollout of the penalty notice for disorder scheme was completed in April 2004 with over 20,000 tickets having been issued at the end of August; and we are investing £13 million over two years into 10 pilot projects which test out new ways of using police staff.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will repeat the study, "A Diary of a Police Officer", in 2005. [194919]
We have no plans to do so at present.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effects of updating and integrating police IT systems on police bureaucracy. [194921]
We are committed to tackling the administrative burdens and inefficient working practices that keep officers from front line duties. A steering group has been set up to oversee the work on reducing bureaucracy in the police service, which includes the development and more efficient use of information technology.
The Custody and Case Preparation Programme will deliver an electronic and paperless system for the handling of an arrest through the provision of a case file for the Crown Prosecution Service and courts. It will also allow courts to input results of cases directly onto the case file, which will automatically update the Police National Computer.
The National Management Information System will reduce much of the work required of forces in their statistical and performance reporting to the Home Office. The Police Portal is already enabling both the public and police to benefit from efficiency savings through the development of the "minor" online crime notification facility.
Intelligence Management Prioritisation Analysis Co-ordination and Tasking (IMPACT), the programme to create a national IT system to support police intelligence and enable sharing of intelligence data between forces will deliver significant business benefits.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average spending per capita on policing in the Islington, North constituency was in each year since 1996–97. [194015]
Resources are allocated directly to borough operational command units using the Service's resource allocation formula. I understand from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis that the provision for Islington, North is now part of the overall provision for the Islington command unit and can be apportioned as follows:
£ per capita 1999–2000 102 2000–01 104 2001–02 108 2002–03 117 2003–04 142 2004–05 151
Notes:
1. In 1990–2000, separate budgets were available for Holloway division (Islington, North) which represented 47 per cent. of Islington borough's total budget. The following years have been calculated as 47 per cent. of Islington borough's total budget.
2. Earlier budget information is not available owing to a change in the financial system in April 1999.
In addition, borough units are able to call upon all London Units (such as dog sections, Territorial Support Group, Traffic and Air Support Units) when operational priorities dictate.
Police Federation
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Police Federation. [194378]
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary meets the chair and other officials of the Police Federation on a regular basis. Their next meeting is scheduled for December 2004.
Police Stations
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he has set on deciding whether a new police station should be built; and what the criteria are for consultation with (a) the public and (b) the local hon. Member. [191133]
It is the Government's role to allocate grant funding to police force areas. It is for the Police Authority and Chief Officer to decide on planning and deployment of available resources.
Under the provisions of the Police Act 1996 (s.96) police authorities are required to make arrangements for obtaining the views of their community on policing in their area.
Rackspace
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning the activities of UK-based customers of the US company Rackspace; and if he will make a statement. [193230]
The Secretary of State did not receive any representations from the Federal Bureau of Investigations in this matter. In the circumstances I do not therefore believe that it is necessary for me to make a statement.
Safer Neighbourhoods Programme (London)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure continuity of funding in the roll-out of the Safer Neighbourhoods Programme in London over the next few years. [194130]
Operational policing initiatives are matters for each police chief officer, within plans and budgets set by the police authority. The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) /Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are developing the Safer Neighbourhood Programme within their own budget. Police authorities receive general grant to help fund their budgets, broadly in relation to their relative needs for policing and in the light of local resources. This year, general grant provides for about 79 per cent. of the MPA's net budget requirements. The level of grant is considered annually.
The Government have provided an increase in police funding of 21 per cent. in real terms since 1997 and has helped to secure higher police officer numbers through the Crime Fighting Fund.
Neighbourhood policing is one of Government's key priorities for the next five years and it will support a significant expansion of accessible and responsive neighbourhood policing across all forces. The Government are providing funding to increase the numbers of community support officers in England and Wales to 5,500 by March 2005 and will provide further funding to increase numbers to 24,000 by the end of 2007–08.
Special Constables
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables have become members of the full-time police force in each of the last five years. [193894]
Information on those joining the Police Service and the wastage rates for the special constabulary is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. Recruits who had served previously as special constables are not separately identified.
Tobacco Smoke Testing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons it is his policy to grant licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to test the effects of tobacco smoke. [191135]
The Government stand firmly by their ban on tests which involve animals in the development and testing of tobacco products announced in November 1997. No such tests have been authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 since that time. However, applications may be considered for licence authorities involving the potential exposure of animals to tobacco smoke when this is the only means of studying an important feature of the development or treatment of a number of health problems.
Under-age Drinking
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the (a) on licence and (b) off licence premises discovered to be selling alcohol to underage young people during the Home Office's Police Standards and ACPO summer initiative have been prosecuted successfully. [193740]
Statistics on the number of successful prosecutions during the Home Office's Police Standards and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) summer initiative cannot be separately identified on the Home Office Court Proceedings database. However the Police Standards Unit is monitoring the progress of prosecutions resulting from the summer campaign. At present it is too early to determine the outcome of these prosecutions.
Health
Alcoholism (Greater London)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had, and with whom, on co-ordinating policy to reduce alcoholism in Greater London. [194155]
The Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy for England was published in March 2004 and includes a range of actions to tackle all aspects of alcohol-related harm. Responsibility for implementation lies jointly with the Department and the Home Office.
The strategy contains actions that focus on tackling serious alcohol problems and alcohol dependence, for example, improving training for doctors, nurses and other health professionals, emphasising early identification of alcohol problems. The Department is conducting an audit of the demand for and provision of alcohol treatment in England by the end of January 2005. The audit will provide information on gaps between demand and provision of treatment services both locally and nationally and will be used as a basis for the Department to develop a programme of improvement to treatment services. The information will provide local data on all areas including Greater London that can be used by local strategic planners.
Autism
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training general practitioners receive in autism awareness; and if he will make a statement. [194783]
The training of general practitioners is a matter for the relevant professional bodies. This question should be addressed to the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Care Homes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) care homes and (b) care home beds there have been in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997. [193605]
I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now the CSCI, but that comparable details are not available. The number of care homes and care home beds for the nearest equivalent areas are shown in the tables.
Table 1 shows the number of care homes in Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland, and England at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001.
Table 2 shows the number of care home places in Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland, and England at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001.
Table 1: The number of care homes in Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland,and England, 1997–2001(25) -- Rounded numbers
Local authority Private Voluntary Independent Total England 1997 2,260 16,830 3,850 5,920 28,850 1998 2,230 16,610 3,930 6,180 28,950 1999 2,070 16,640 3,860 6,110 28,680 2000 2,030 16,460 3,950 5,880 28,320 2001 1,870 15,980 3,940 5,680 27,480 Gateshead and South Tyneside 1997 30 60 50 40 170 1998 40 90 30 40 190 1999 40 100 20 40 190 2000 30 90 30 30 180 2001 30 100 30 30 190 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1997 30 130 30 60 240 1998 20 130 30 50 240 1999 20 140 40 60 250 2000 20 160 40 60 280 2001 20 120 40 60 250 Northumberland 1997 20 100 30 20 170 1998 20 100 20 30 170 1999 20 110 30 30 180 2000 20 110 30 30 180 2001 10 100 30 30 170
(25) Nursing relates to Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority (HA), Newcastle and North Tyneside HA and Northumberland HA; Residential care relates to Gateshead Council with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSR), South Tyneside CSSR, Newcastle CSSR, North Tyneside CSSR, and Northumberland CSSR.
(26) Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.
Source:
RA and RH(N) form A.
Table 2: The number of care home places in Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland,and England, 1997–2001(27) -- Rounded numbers
Local authority Private Voluntary Independent Total England 1997 65,820 213,140 59,170 196,270 534,410 1998 63,980 223,130 60,790 205,590 553,490 1999 59,030 226,290 58,720 202,150 546,190 2000 55,460 229,720 60,720 193,330 539,240 2001 50,860 228,340 61,970 186,830 528,000 Gateshead and South Tyneside 1997 890 1,490 310 1,460 4,150 1998 860 1,560 310 1,720 4,460 1999 830 1,590 300 1,500 4,220 2000 770 1,630 330 1,480 4,210 2001 760 1,670 300 1,360 4,090 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1997 630 2,150 540 1,750 5,070 1998 540 2,810 470 1,810 5,610 1999 460 2,570 450 1,740 5,220 2000 520 2,970 510 1,630 5,630 2001 470 2,490 570 1,700 5,220 Northumberland 1997 620 1,680 340 830 3,470 1998 500 1,790 400 1,030 3,720 1999 520 1,900 380 990 3,790 2000 530 1,970 380 980 3,870 2001 480 1,990 390 990 3,840
(27) Nursing relates to Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority (HA), Newcastle and North Tyneside HA and Northumberland HA; Residential care relates to Gateshead Council with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSR), South Tyneside CSSR, Newcastle CSSR, North Tyneside CSSR, and Northumberland CSSR.
(28) Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics. .
Source:
RA and RH(N) form A.
Childhood Vaccinations
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place for parents who wish their babies to receive each childhood vaccination separately. [194213]
The Department provides the combined childhood vaccine because it provides the most effective protection against a number of potentially serious diseases. Single vaccines are not provided on the national health service as they leave the child at risk of infection for a longer period of time. Also, some single antigen vaccines are not manufactured.
Consultants
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultancy firms or companies have been retained by the Department since June 2001; what the projects are for which each has been retained; and what the total is of the fees paid or incurred in each case. [193420]
The Department does not hold centrally a record of individual contracts, nor does it have similar details for its agencies. To secure such details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Publications (Access)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of publications issued by his Department are available in (a) Braille, (b) autoprint, (c) large print and (d) easy read format. [194303]
Where we assess that a publication will have wide interest, including consultation documents and public facing information, materials are produced as standard in alternative formats on, or as close as possible, to the initial publication launch date. Many of the Department's public facing materials are produced in large print format (conforming to Royal National Institute for the Blind guidelines) as a matter of course.
Additionally, the Department undertakes to produce all publications in alternative formats upon request. Alternative formats may include Braille, audio-cassette, British Sign Language video, compact disc, large print format and versions for people with learning difficulties.
Documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which conforms to Government guidelines and W3C (World Wide Web consortium) accessibility standards at level "A".
Recently, the Department's website has been speech enabled with software which reads webpages aloud, highlighting text as it goes. This makes content more accessible for those who are dyslexic; have learning difficulties; for whom English is not their first language and those with mild visual impairment.
The Department does not centrally record information about individual requests and subsequent production of alternative formats and so it is not possible to provide figures on the numbers of publications available in each format.
Energy/Carbon Strategy
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the energy/carbon strategy by NHS estates will be published; and how it has taken into consideration the role of good quality combined heat and power plant. [193826]
The NHS Estates document entitled "Carbon/Energy Management in Healthcare—Best practice advice for the NHS in England on the meeting of mandatory carbon/energy targets", will be published at the end of November 2004. A copy will be placed in the Library.
The document will contain a checklist of actions for new build programmes, or refurbishments, advising the national health service to consider installing combined heat and power plant (CHP) to maximise efficiencies, benefit from exemptions from the Climate Change Levy and contribute towards the Government CHP target (10,000 more CHP plants by 2010).
Epidermolysis Bullosa
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve (a) awareness of and (b) training on epidermolysis bullosa for health professionals; and if he will make a statement. [194234]
The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for health professional training. However, we do share a commitment with statutory and professional bodies that all health professionals are trained, so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal.
The General Medical Council's Education Committee published recommendations on undergraduate medical education in 2002. It states that graduates must know and understand normal and abnormal function including the natural history of human diseases and disease presentations.
We are committed to improving services for patients with genetic diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa. The Department published a £50 million strategy to harness the potential of advances in genetics for the benefit of national health service patients in June 2003. The White Paper "Our Inheritance, Our Future—Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS" set out the Government's commitment to developing genetics knowledge, skills and provision within the NHS.
Free Eye Tests (Cleethorpes)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners in Cleethorpes constituency have had free eye tests since they were introduced. [194184]
Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or pensioners are not collected centrally.
The following table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by South Humber Health Authority (HA) for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the two primary care trusts (PCTs) that now cover the old South Humber HA area for the year ending 31 March 2004.
General ophthalmic services: Number of sight tests paid by South Humber HA for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004
HA/PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over 1999–2000 South Humber HA 23.3 2000–01 South Humber HA 26.4 2001–02 South Humber HA 28.7 2002–03 South Humber HA 30.2 2003–04 North East Lincolnshire PCT 18.2 North Lincolnshire PCT 13.9 Total South Humber HA 32.1
HIV
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women living in the Greater London area are HIV positive. [195371]
The survey of prevalent diagnosed HIV infections showed there were 13,131 men and 5,972 women of all ages with diagnosed HIV infection living in London in 2003.
Hospital Infections
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff members the Skipton Fund are employing to respond to the applications for help from those infected with Hepatitis C; and if he will make a statement. [193651]
There are four members of staff employed by the Skipton Fund. In addition, support services, including financial assistance, are provided by the staff members of the Macfarlane Trust.
Long-term Care
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2004, Official Report, column 927W, on long-term care, whether the study established what proportion of those people (a) were discharged to their own homes with no further need for personal care at that time, (b) were discharged to their own homes with further domiciliary care provided, (c) were admitted to hospital and (d) died. [194238]
The study involved a longitudinal follow-up of a sample of people admitted to residential or nursing care. It revealed that after 42 months had elapsed some 0.9 per cent. of the original sample had been discharged to private households (it is not possible to split(a) and (b) ), 0.4 per cent. had been admitted to hospital and 67 per cent. had died.
Data taken from "Survey of Admissions to Residential and Nursing Home Care—final report of the 42 month follow-up" by Bebbington, Darton et al, Discussion paper 1675, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent—August 2000.
Matrons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed as matrons by Essex Rivers Health Care at (a) Colchester General Hospital and (b) Essex County Hospital. [195832]
The information requested is not collected centrally. Information is collected on the number of nurse managers, which includes matrons, at national health service trust level and figures for Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust are shown in the table.
NHS hospital and community health services: Nurse managers as at 30 September 2003
Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust Whole-time equivalent 4 Headcount 4
Note:
Whole-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Medicines (Children and Infants)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) if he will estimate what proportion of medicines prescribed to (a) children and (b) infants have never been tested on children or infants; [194246]
(2) for what proportion of medicines prescribed to (a) children and (b) infants there is no agreed level of dosage; [194252]
(3) what recent assessment he has made of drugs which are not licensed for that purpose being used for the treatment of children; [194255]
(4) what percentage of medicines used for treatment of children do not have a dosage approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; and if he will make a statement. [194258]
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not have access to data in a form that would allow any of the requested estimates to be made. For many medicines, there is a dosage regimen for use in children and infants which has been agreed by an authoritative body of health professionals, based on clinical experience, medical practice and evidence from the published literature. Such dosage regimens, for example, are set out in the Medicines for Children Formulary, which is published by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health and is to be replaced in 2005 by the British National Formulary for children, published by the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. However, the dosage regimens, although agreed by health professionals, are not necessarily authorised by the MHRA.
We are unable to provide the percentage of medicines that do not have an authorised dosage regimen for use in children, as we do not hold data in that form. In addition, some medicines are authorised for some, but not all appropriate, paediatric age ranges.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) what progress has been made on a European regulation to encourage more drug companies to research specific medicines for children; [194254]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom provide clear dosage information for children and adults on all drugs they produce; and if he will make a statement. [194257]
The Government published on 17 August a strategy to produce improvements in the short and medium term in the availability of medicines licensed for use in the paediatric population and to improve the information available on paediatric use. This includes requesting companies to submit completed paediatric clinical trials and assessing the data with a view to including information on paediatric use in the summary of product characteristics (SmPC). The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is also stressing the need to provide data on paediatric use in its discussions with companies prior to the submission of marketing authorisation applications. The MHRA offers free scientific and regulatory advice to companies wishing to discuss paediatric drug development and grants a fee waiver to applications for certain applications to introduce paediatric information into the SmPC. It will consult shortly on a fee waiver for new applications for authorisations for paediatric use.
The European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on medicines for paediatric use on 29 September. It contains a requirement that companies provide paediatric data for all new applications for marketing authorisation and for certain changes to existing authorisations. The member states will begin discussing the text of the draft Regulation on October 29 under the Dutch presidency. The United Kingdom will have an opportunity to drive the negotiations forward during its presidency in the second half of 2005. It is anticipated that the Regulation will not be finalised before the end of 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children who (a) died and (b) were injured as a result of treatment with drugs not licensed for the treatment of children in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [194256]
The following table shows the total number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the yellow card scheme from 1 January to 31 December for each of the last five years, where the patient age was specified as 18 years or less. We do not have a sub-analysis of reports received in association with medicines not licensed for use in children.
Calendar year Number of suspected ADR reports received, where patient age specified as 18 years or less Number of suspected ADR reports received with a fatal outcome, where patient age specified as 18 years or less Total number of suspected ADR reports received 1999 2,820 29 18,486 2000 12,495 39 36,152 2001 1,809 39 21,467 2002 1,717 37 17,622 2003 2,592 35 19,267
Please note that data held on the adverse drug reactions on-line information tracking (ADROIT) database is dynamic and may be subject to change.
It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a system of learning from the yellow card system about the correct dosage and prescribing methods for medicines for children. [194259]
The yellow card scheme is not designed to enable lessons to be drawn about correct dosage or prescribing methods for medicines for children. There are no plans to introduce a system of learning in this context.
Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are held on a purpose designed computer database known as the adverse drug reactions on-line information tracking (ADROIT) database, which was introduced in 1991. Data held on ADROIT is dynamic and may be subject to change.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines/Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (CSM/MHRA) request that all suspected ADRs which occur in children are reported, regardless of whether the medicine is licensed for use in children. This is because the nature and course of illness and ADRs may differ between adults and children. In general, children are not exposed to medicines in clinical trials, many drugs which are routinely used to treat children are not licensed for use in this age group. It is therefore particularly important to focus on the safety of medicines in children.
We are interested in any side effects of medicines as used in clinical practice, regardless of whether they are being used according to the terms of the licence, as described in the product information.
It is important that we are aware of side effects which arise when medicines are used "off label", so that we can act to warn health professionals if necessary. However, the treatment of individual patients remains the responsibility of the doctor.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the initiative in the Trent region to encourage reporting of adverse drug reactions in the use of medicines in the treatment of children. [194260]
Between 1998 and 2001 the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) the predecessor of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) funded a pilot scheme in Trent to stimulate reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines used in the treatment of children. The project had limited success in stimulating reporting. Following on from this and using lessons learned, the MHRA has pursued a wider strategy to enhance existing data collection mechanisms.
This has included working with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU), of the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health and working with the Committee on Safety of Medicines Regional Monitoring Centres to promote ADR reporting in children.
The strategy will be taken forward in the European Regulation on medicines for paediatric use. In addition the MHRA is currently leading the development of a European guideline on paediatric pharmacovigilance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the (a) time spent in hospitals and (b) cost involved in treating a person who has experienced an adverse drug reaction. [194261]
We do not hold data to answer this question. However a recent study, funded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority and published in the British Medical Journal, provides relevant information.1
Of 18,820 patients aged over 16 years admitted to hospital over a six month period and assessed for cause of admission, there were 1,225 admissions judged to be related to an adverse drug reaction (ADR), giving a prevalence of 6.5 per cent. Of these 1,225, the ADR was judged to lead directly to the admission in 80 per cent. of cases. The median bed stay was eight days, accounting for 4 per cent. of the hospital bed capacity. The projected annual cost of such admissions to the NHS is £466 million. The overall fatality was 0.15 per cent. Most reactions were either definitely or possibly avoidable. Drugs most commonly implicated in causing these admissions included low dose aspirin, diuretics, warfarin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs other than aspirin, the most common reaction being gastrointestinal bleeding. There was no assessment made of whether the ADR was associated with off-label or unlicensed use.
1 Source:
British Medical Journal. 2004 July 3;329(7456):15–9 Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18,820 patients. Pirmohamed M., James S., Meakin S., Green C., Scott A.K., Walley T.J., Farrar K., Park B.K., Breckenridge A.M. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE.
Mental Health
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers of people with mental health problems have been identified by NHS trusts; and how many of those carers have received care plans. [194239]
The information is not collected centrally.
In line with the sixth standard of the national service framework for mental health (1999), all individuals who provide regular and substantial care for a person on care programme approach should have an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs, and be given their own written care plans which are implemented in discussion with them.
Up to 700 carer support workers will be in post by the end of the year to increase the breaks available for carers and to strengthen carer support networks. To consolidate the progress that is being made and to build on good practice and research, the Department has published guidance, entitled "Developing Services for Carers and Families of People with Mental Illness", in 2002.
Military Low Flying
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1762W, on military low flying, if he will undertake a study into the health effects of military low flying on people living within military tactical training areas. [193728]
The Department has recently set up an expert advisory group to look at the effects on health of environmental noise. A report is expected in 2005.
National Clinical Director
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 11 individuals appointed to the post of National Clinical Director or its equivalent. [194738]
holding answer 1 November 2004
The 11 individuals appointed to the post of national clinical director or equivalent are listed in the table.
Appointee Professor Sir George Albert Emergency access Professor Louis Appleby Mental health Professor Al Aynsley-Green Children's services Dr. Roger Boyle Heart disease Mr. Harry Cayton Patient experience and the public Dr. David Colin-Thomé Primary care services Mrs. Kathryn Hudson Social care Professor Ian Philp Older people's services Professor Mike Richards Cancer Dr. Sue Roberts Diabetes Mr. Surinder Sharma Equality and human rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) salaries and (b) payments have been made to the 11 individuals appointed to the post of National Clinical Director or its equivalent since their appointments; and if he will make a statement. [194740]
holding answer 1 November 2004
Three directors have been appointed as senior civil servants on pay band 2 of the senior civil service scale, which covers the range £73,762 to £155,008. All other directors are seconded from their existing employers, and have retained their previous salaries. Two directors receive compensation for loss of earnings from private practice.
National Programme for IT
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that all local service providers are fully insured against failure to deliver the national programme for IT in the NHS. [194894]
The National Programme for Information Technology requires its contractors to maintain insurance policies as required by applicable law and as appropriate for the performance of services of the size and type contracted. These policies remain in force throughout the contract term and for a suitable subsequent period.
Organ Donation
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2004, Official Report, column 1009W, on organ donation, what research has shown that non heart beating donors may prove to be a good source of lungs for transplantation; and if he will place the research studies in the Library. [193739]
There are a significant number of studies relating to non-heart-beating donors as a source of lungs for transplantation. A selection of these have been placed in the Library.
Over-30-months Scheme
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Ministers from the (a) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Treasury on the over-30-months scheme; and when a decision is expected on its cessation. [194197]
The Government are considering the Food Standards Agency's advice on the over-30-months rule and an announcement will be made in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from those requesting an end to the over-30-months scheme. [194198]
Written representations have been received from the National Beef Association and from a small number of hon. and right hon. Members on behalf of beef farmers.
Primary Care Trusts (Leeds)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure was of primary care trusts in Leeds in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated expenditure is for 2004–05. [194618]
Information on expenditure is not available for 2004–05. Expenditure for 2002–03 and 2003–04 is shown in the table.
Expenditure by Leeds primary care trusts (PCTs) -- £ million
Expenditure 2002–03 699.277 2003–04 755.308
Note:
2003–04 data are provisional.
Source:
Audited summarisation schedules of the Leeds PCTs 2002–03 and 2003–04.
Private Finance Initiatives
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is provided to procuring authorities within the NHS about the treatment of PFI arrangements in the accounts of public bodies. [193889]
In determining the accounting treatment of private finance initiative (PFI) arrangements, public bodies are required to follow United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice, including financial reporting standards (FRSs) issued by the Accounting Standards Board (ASB). The specific guidance issued by the ASB for accounting for PFI is "Application Note F to FRS 5—Private Finance Initiative and Similar Contracts," as supplemented by the Treasury-issued "Technical Note No. 1 (Revised)—How to Account for PFI transactions."
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the private finance initiative arrangements in which the Department is engaged; what the total cost of each arrangement is (a) over its lifetime and (b) in each year of its operation; and how the arrangement appears in the Department's public accounts. [193980]
Information showing details of unitary payments for all signed contracts for private finance initiative hospital schemes (PFI) with a capital value of £10 million and over has been placed in the Library. These will be accounted for by each contracting trust. Detailed information is not held centrally for schemes below this capital value.
Individual national health service trust accounts are not currently consolidated within the Department's resource accounts, but those for primary care trusts are, so any assets or liabilities related to their PFI schemes would be reflected in them.
NHS trust accounts are consolidated into the NHS trust summarised accounts.
Silzone Heart Valves
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the reports which the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency has received concerning adverse incidents involving the St. Jude Silzone heart valve. [193088]
The Department is unable to provide copies of these reports due to statutory obligations under the terms of the European Medical Devices Directives. Furthermore, such reports contain individual patient information, which cannot be released for reasons of confidentiality. However, extensive action has been taken to warn clinicians and thereby patients implanted with this particular heart valve.
Skipton Fund
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the ease of access for applicants to information about the progress of their applications from the Skipton Fund; and if he will make a statement. [193652]
Since the Skipton Fund became operational on 5 July, a key priority for the fund has been the despatch and process of stage 1 application forms.
Each applicant who has registered with the Skipton Fund may telephone the Skipton Fund helpline to inquire about progress with their application. The Haemophilia Society website, at www.haemophilia.org.uk, provides an update on the range of applications that are being processed.
Smoking
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's estimate is of the number of people who die from smoking-related diseases in each of the last five years. [194199]
The latest data available on smoking related deaths estimated that in the United Kingdom in 1995, smoking caused more than 120,000 deaths of people aged 35 years or over ("The UK smoking epidemic: Deaths in 1995."—Health Education Authority 1998. A copy is available in the Library).
The Health Development Agency is undertaking a similar study, updating this work, estimating the number of smoking attributable deaths. A report will be published in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will carry out an assessment of the Irish ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces. [194200]
The Government are aware of the reports from Ireland on the effect of the smoking ban in workplaces, including those from the Office of Tobacco Control. No additional assessment is planned.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many smokers there are in England. [194240]
It is estimated that in England in 2002, 26 per cent. of adults aged 16 and over smoked cigarettes regularly, at least one cigarette a day; this is around 10.3 million adults.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on prevention of smoking, broken down by (a) advertising and (b) smoking cessation services, in each year since 1997. [194241]
Prior to 1999–2000, the Health Education Authority ran the public education campaign on the dangers of smoking. The Department took over this work in December 1999.
Table 1 shows advertising expenditure on the dangers of smoking from 1999–2000 to date.
Amount (£ million) 1999–2000 6.18 2000–01 8.97 2001–02 7.79 2002–03 7.88 2003–04 19.36
The national health service stop smoking services, formerly smoking cessation services, were launched in the health action zones (HAZs) in 1999–2000, with services rolled out across the NHS in 2000–01.
Table 2 shows financial allocations to the NHS stop smoking services from 1999–2000 to date.
Amount (£ million) 1999–2000 10(29) 2000–01 20 2001–02 23 2002–03 23 2003–04 41 2004–05 46
(29) HAZs only.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) how many people attended the smoking cessation clinic held on the Parliamentary Estate on 2 March; what plans there are to run a quit clinic within the Parliamentary Estate in the near future; and if he will make a statement; [195732]
(2) whether he has received representations from those within the Parliamentary Estate to provide smoking cessation services within the Estate for staff of the House, Members of both Houses and their staff; and if he will make a statement. [195735]
I have been asked to reply.
The smoking cessation clinic took place on 2 March 2004, and was run in partnership by Cancer Research UK, QUIT and the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service of the Houses of Parliament. The initiative ran with the approval of Parliament's Medical Panel and was timed to help raise the profile of the national No Smoking Day, 10 March 2004. The promotion was open to all passholders of the Parliamentary Estate and just under 100 people attended the clinic (including Members and Peers), either to see a QUIT counsellor or to gain general advice on smoking-related health issues and ways to reduce their risk of developing cancer. Following the event a survey of attendees was carried out and responses indicated that it had been very well received and should be repeated in the future.
Currently information and advice on smoking cessation is available via the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service, including information packs. Plans are in hand also to make this information available via the parliamentary intranet.
No representations about smoking cessation services have been received by the Commission. The Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service are planning a schedule of health awareness events for 2005, including a smoking cessation clinic. Discussions are taking place with Cancer Research UK with a view to running one at about the same time as the next national No Smoking Day, 9 March 2005.
Special Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194060]
For information relating to numbers and names of unpaid advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1380W.
Specialist Services (Funding)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards are in place to ensure that the introduction of payment by results does not indirectly divert resources away from specialist services which are not covered by tariffs. [194362]
Primary care trusts (PCT) are responsible for commissioning health and social care for their local communities. It will be a matter for PCTs, working with those organisations providing treatment, to ensure that all relevant services to meet health care needs are commissioned and funded. PCTs will also be responsible for monitoring activity within service level agreements and taking appropriate action in cases of under- or over-delivery.
Work is continuing to develop the scope of the payment by results scheme and it is expected that all services will be brought into the scheme by 2008–09.
Spinal Surgery (Dorset)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) if he will make a statement on the provision of spinal surgery for people living in the Poole and Bournemouth area; [194549]
(2) what provision of spinal surgery is available for people living in the Poole and Bournemouth area. [194550]
holding answer 2 November 2004
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs), in conjunction with their strategic health authorities, to assess the health care needs of their population and commission in-patient services, including specialist facilities such as spinal injury units.
The national health service organisations responsible for planning and commissioning spinal surgery in the Bournemouth and Poole areas are the Bournemouth Teaching PCT, the Poole PCT and the South and East Dorset PCT.
I am informed that these PCTs have adequate and effective commissioning arrangements in place for the provision of prompt and clinically appropriate services, including spinal surgery.
Stair Lifts
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency has for ensuring that stair lifts are installed and maintained safely. [195242R]
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in its role of safeguarding public health and adverse incident investigation, gives advice to persons responsible for the provision of stair lifts on the importance of ensuring that approved installers are used and that maintenance procedures are carried out in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Providers are also advised on the need for a full assessment of the patient and their living environment to ensure safe use.
The MHRA has issued guidance document DB9801, "Medical Device and Equipment Management for Hospital and Community-based Organisations", which contains guidance on maintenance and repair.
Taiwan (World Health Organisation)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department supports the request by Taiwan to be given observer status at the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [194631]
As a United Nations specialised agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires statehood as a prerequisite for full membership. At the World Health Assembly last May, the Presidency of the European Union Council expressed the hope that the WHO secretariat and others organising technical and working groups under WHO auspices would show flexibility in finding mechanisms to allow Taiwanese medical and public health officials to participate in these activities. Her Majesty's Government will continue to look at ideas for finding that flexibility.
Waiting Lists/Times
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been waiting for 12 weeks or more for their first appointment with a consultant at St. George's Hospital, Tooting. [194630]
The information requested is not available centrally.
At quarter ending June 2004, there were 518 patients waiting 13 weeks and over at St. George's Healthcare National Health Service Trust for their first consultant out-patient appointment following general dental practitioner referral.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Essex are waiting for cardiac surgery. [194926]
The requested information is collected on a provider basis. There are no patients waiting at providers within the Essex strategic health authority area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Essex are waiting for (a) knee and (b) hip replacements. [194927]
The information requested is not held centrally.
Northern Ireland
Cancer Screening
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the uptake rate is for breast cancer screening in Northern Ireland. [195420]
The uptake rate for breast screening in Northern Ireland during the three years ending 31 March 2004 was 75 per cent., and is in respect of all women aged 50–64 who were invited for screening.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent to which those with learning difficulties in the Province make use of screening programmes for (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer. [194525]
All women in Northern Ireland who are in the screening age group are routinely invited for breast and cervical screening. Routine data are available to show the uptake and coverage rates for the breast and cervical screening programmes as a whole. Data specifically relating to the number of women with learning difficulties being screened are not routinely collected as there is no single database that will provide a comprehensive list of women with learning difficulties.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the coverage is of the cervical screening programme in Northern Ireland. [195419]
The cervical screening programme in Northern Ireland covers women aged 20–64. Over the five-year period ending March 2003 (the latest date for which such information is available), 72 per cent. of women in that age group had been screened.
Carers
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to introduce a non-means tested payment for carers who stay at home to look after elderly parents and relatives; and if he will make a statement. [195217]
Carer's allowance, which is a non-means tested social security benefit, is already available to carers aged 16 or over who provide regular and substantial care to people, including older people, in receipt of attendance allowance, or the equivalent rates of disability living allowance care component, or an equivalent benefit paid under the war disablement pensions scheme, or the industrial injuries disablement benefit scheme.
Child Care Provision
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a review of out-of-school play care provision within Northern Ireland has been conducted; and if he will make a statement. [195778]
Any review of out-of-school hours provision in Northern Ireland will be undertaken within the context of the overall review of "Children First"—the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy. As this review will be comprehensive in its remit, one of the specific areas it will look at is that of out-of-school hours provision.
Child Support Agency
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle problems within the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland. [194613]
The Child Support Agency is continuing to work closely with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) to remove the defects within EDS's computer service and which are causing many of the current delays in processing cases. They have implemented a number of software releases and hardware upgrades that are progressively improving that service. There are plans for further releases later this year and in the early part of next year. EDS are also providing further guidance, advice and coaching to members of teams handling new applications with a view to increasing their productivity even within the constraints of the existing computer service.
Contractors (Security Clearance)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) contractors, (b) sub-contractors and (c) their employees have (i) been refused and (ii) had withdrawn security clearance to work in prison and security force establishments in each year since 2000, to date. [195051]
Statistics for contractors who have been refused security clearance by the Northern Ireland Prison Service from 2000 to 2004 are as follows.
Security clearance refusals 2000 4 2001 5 2002 1 2003 9 2004 29
The increase in the number of refused applications is due to some applicants not disclosing all previous convictions.
The PSNI does not vet companies for security clearance but does vet individuals that companies propose to employ on police sites. The following table provides a breakdown of the 453 individuals who have been refused clearance to work on police sites since 2000:
Security clearance refusals 2000 46 2001 75 2002 62 2003 142 2004 (to 27 October) 128
The PSNI do not keep a separate record of contractor employees whose clearance has been withdrawn.
Statistics are not available separately for contractors, sub-contractors or employees nor for the number of security clearance applications withdrawn. Producing such figures would incur disproportionate costs.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has also advised me that for the year 2004 to date there were 1,519 applications for contractor's clearance on to security force establishments with 42 denials. Figures prior to that year are not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Crimestoppers
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people called Crimestoppers in Northern Ireland in each of the past four years; and what budget allocation has been made in each year to cover the costs of the scheme. [193554]
The total number of calls made to Crimestoppers in each of the past four years are as follows.
Total calls 2000 19,126 2001 19,019 2002 16,188 2003 27,262 2004 (until 30 September) 17,663
Crimestoppers is a registered charity and as such its general running costs are not met from public funds although some funds have been made available to finance publicity campaigns.
Crowd Control (Policing Ombudsman)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many instances in the last year police in Northern Ireland have dealt with crowds of people involved in riotous behaviour or behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace resulting in the case being referred to the Policing Ombudsman. [194794]
The Police Ombudsman has advised that the office has recorded 16 incidents in the last 12 months, which they would classify as public order incidents, in relation to which complaints have been received.
Dementia
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on provision of care (a) within the community and (b) in residential or nursing homes for those in the Province with learning disability who suffer dementia. [194635]
Health and Social Services Boards are expanding and developing services to meet the needs of people with a learning disability who also suffer from dementia. The aim is to support such people in familiar surroundings. In the community, this need is primarily met by psychiatric, nursing, allied health professional and social care within learning disability services. Appropriate day activity places are also being provided to meet the particular needs of individuals.
For people who require nursing or residential care, Boards endeavour to place each individual in a setting most appropriate to their assessed needs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to improve the provision of care for those with learning disability who suffer dementia; and if he will make a statement. [194636]
Health and Social Services Boards are reviewing their provision for people with learning disability who suffer dementia. This has resulted in awareness training in dementia for staff in learning disability services; the development of specific day care provision and the purchase of some dementia specific residential provision. Further service development will be subject to the availability of additional resources.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop services in the Province so those with learning disability who develop dementia can access mainstream dementia services in their locality. [194637]
As people with a learning disability may develop dementia at a younger age it is not always appropriate for them to be cared for in settings designed for older people. Those for whom mainstream services are considered to be appropriate can already access local services.
An Expert Working Committee on Issues in Old Age has been established as part of the review of mental health to take forward further work on this issue. As dementia is not exclusive to older people, the Committee has been asked to consider the subject in its broadest sense.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what change there has been in the prevalence of dementia in the Province among (a) males and (b) females with learning disabilities in the last 10 years. [194638]
The information requested is not available.
Disabled Patients (Health Service Access)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by each of the Province's health trusts to ensure disabled patients have the same access to services as the rest of the population. [194528]
Health and social services trusts have been taking a range of action to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA). The action has included reviewing practices, policies and procedures on service provision, providing auxiliary aids or alternative services to improve access, and disability awareness training for staff. Trusts have also undertaken access audits of buildings and identified remedial work has been factored into planned maintenance schedules.
The Department has provided an additional £3.5 million in 2003–04 and a further £5 million in 2004–05 to address DDA remedial work. It has also recently appointed Disability Action to carry out a review of action taken to date by health and social services boards, trusts and agencies to comply with the access provisions of the DDA. A report of the review is expected in May 2005.
Education Funding
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the per pupil funding in each of the education and library board areas in Northern Ireland is in the current financial year. [195238]
The following information is taken from the Budget statements published by each of the education and library boards:
2004–05 formula funding
Education and library board Per capita (£) BELB 2,473 NEELB 2,340 SEELB 2,327 SELB 2,397 WELB 2.437
In addition to Formula Funding allocations, schools also have access to certain earmarked funds and central services provided on their behalf by the education and library boards.
Farm Payments
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many, and what value of farm payments that were due to be paid by 30 June have not yet been paid, broken down by category of farm payment. [195831]
The number and potential value, if paid in full, of farm subsidy claims currently outstanding is as follows:
Applications unpaid Value (£ million) Beef special premium 1,972 0.9 Slaughter premium 1,167 0.6 Suckler cow premium 285 0.3 Extensification payment 1,158 2.5
These applications relate to unresolved cases where there is a query or penalty to be applied. It is not expected, therefore, that all claims will be paid in full.
Fire Tenders
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the fire tenders manufactured by Sidhean Teo of Galway and delivered to the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in July are now in full operational service. [195052]
All of the fire tenders manufactured by Sidhean Teo of Galway are in full operational service.
Fireworks (Hospital Admissions)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many admissions to hospitals in Northern Ireland in September and October of each of the last five years were primarily as a result of involvement with, or being in close proximity to, fireworks. [194788]
Information on the number of admissions to hospitals in Northern Ireland during September and October in each of the last five years as a result of involvement with, or being in close proximity to, fireworks is not available. However, information on the number of patients reporting to A&E Departments and Minor Injuries Units with injuries from fireworks and those admitted to hospital, over a selected 4–5 week period covering the end of October and start of November (Halloween period) is available and is detailed in the following table.
Number of patients reporting to A&E/Minor Injuries Units during Halloween period Number admitted after reporting to A&E/Minor Injuries Units during Halloween period 1999 139 17 2000 100 6 2001 136 19 2002 38 6 2003 45 5
Notes:
1. Figures do not include injuries from fireworks outside the survey period and will not include injuries, which were not sufficiently serious to warrant attendance at an A&E Department or Minor Injuries Unit.
2. Numbers admitted included those admitted to the hospital attended and those transferred to another hospital.
Higher Education Access
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to ensure greater access to higher education by people living in East Londonderry constituency. [194790]
The Department for Employment and Learning is committed to improving access to higher education to people throughout Northern Ireland including in East Londonderry, and in particular those groups who are currently underrepresented.
Measures to improve access include a marked expansion in domestic HE provision. Since 1998, DEL has allocated the University of Ulster some 1,367 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) student places. It is for the university, as an autonomous body, to determine the distribution of places among its various campuses including the Coleraine campus. The university also has the flexibility to accommodate as many part-time and post-graduate students as it wishes.
There has also been significant growth in higher education provision delivered in the further education sector. One of the main purposes behind the expansion of higher education courses delivered in further education colleges is to widen access to higher education for mature students, students wanting to study part-time, students who want to study close to home, disabled students and students who do not have traditional qualifications.
In addition, a number of measures have been introduced to widen access to higher education by disadvantaged groups. These include: a package of student support measures to assist students from low income families; a widening access premium for students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and a widening access premium for students with disabilities and capital funding to assist the universities improve access for disabled students.
The Department has also provided special project funding specifically aimed at allowing the universities to carry out "outreach" activities in schools with traditionally low levels of participation in HE in order to raise the aspiration, motivation and academic performance of pupils to progress to higher education. These outreach activities include the tutoring of pupils, "taster" programmes, university open days, and summer schools. Decisions on where outreach activities take place are a matter for the universities.
Hospital Deaths
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce more rigorous methods of investigating hospital deaths in the Province; and if he will make a statement. [194642]
A Safety in Health Care Steering Group was established by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety following the publication of the consultation document entitled "Best Practice, Best Care" in April 2001. In July it issued interim guidance (HSS (PPM) 06/04) to the HPSS and special agencies on the reporting and management of serious adverse incidents.
The Department has also established a multi-agency group comprising departmental officials and representatives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the coroners' service to develop a memorandum of understanding for the investigation of death and serious incidents in hospitals. This will take account of a recent memorandum of understanding issued for consultation in England and Wales: "Investigating patient safety incidents (unexpected death or serious untoward harm): a protocol for liaison and effective communications between the NHS, Association of Chief Police Officers and HSE", which can be viewed at: http: //www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/48/61/04084861.pdf.
MMR Vaccinations
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the rate of uptake of the MMR vaccination is among children aged 24 months in Northern Ireland. [195418]
The rate of uptake of the MMR vaccination for children aged 24 months in Northern Ireland is shown for the four quarters of the financial year 2003–04 in the following table:
Vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Percentage June 2003 87.8 September 2003 87.2 December 2003 88.9 March 2004 87.6
Note:
The uptake rate is in respect of children who reached their second birthday during the relevant quarter. The information is published on a quarterly basis.
Intravenous Fluid Management
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to (a) improve knowledge of intravenous fluid management and (b) prevent deaths of children from dilutional hyponatraemia in hospitals in the Province and if he will make a statement. [194641]
There is undergraduate teaching on fluids and electrolytes and the topic of fluid management is included during the induction training of junior doctors. Also the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has issued guidance on the prevention of hyponatraemia in children (March 2002) and the Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (CREST) has also issued guidance on the management of hyponatraemia in adults (June 2003).
The guidance issued by the Department in March 2002 stresses that hyponatraemia can be extremely serious and potentially fatal. The guidance has been prepared as an A2 sized poster for display in all hospital units where children may receive IV fluids or oral rehydration.
Learning Disabilities (Health Provision)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that those with learning disabilities make use of screening for (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer. [194532]
Each of the four Health Boards in Northern Ireland is actively involved in health promotion activities within their Board area. Staff are continuously working to increase awareness and educate all women about breast and cervical screening with particular focus being placed on disadvantaged areas, ethnic minority groups, women with learning/literacy difficulties and individual groups with special needs. Specialist literature for women with learning difficulties has been produced by the National Screening Committee. Plans are also in place to produce a DVD aimed at women with learning difficulties. A partnership approach has been developed with Action Cancer with the provision of special screening clinics for women with learning difficulties. Tailored training and education programmes have been introduced for GP's, Action Cancer and Ulster Cancer Foundation personnel and Community Learning Disability Nurses; information sessions have been introduced for clients, carers, staff and supporters in Day/Adult Centres.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals there are in the Province with a learning disability. [194521]
Information on the total number of people with a learning disability is not available, as many people with learning disabilities are not in contact with healthcare providers. However, provisional figures for the year 2003–04 indicate there were 9,692 people in the Learning Disability Programme of Care who were in contact with social services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role those with learning disabilities, and their carers and families, have in the planning and commissioning of health services in the Province. [194522]
Each of the four Health and Social Services Boards has a strategy for the development of learning disability services in their areas. These have been developed through consultation with people with a learning disability and their carers.
In a number of Health and Social Services Trust areas there are groups of people with a learning disability and carers who are consulted on local service development. Local advocacy services are being developed, as resources permit, for those with communication difficulties to enhance this process.
The Learning Disability Working Committee, which is reviewing learning disability policy and services, has a person with a learning disability and a carer in its membership. It has also established two reference groups, one for people with a learning disability and the other for carers, to inform its work. The Committee has consulted widely with people with a learning disability and their carers through public meetings staged at venues around the Province.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of those with learning difficulties in the Province are registered with a general practitioner. [194526]
Information on the proportion of those with learning difficulties in the Province registered with a general practitioner is not available centrally.
Everyone who is resident in Northern Ireland has an equal right to register with a general practitioner. However, those with severe learning disabilities who require dedicated facilities and are resident within a hospital are not registered with a general practitioner as their needs are covered by the relevant Trust.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(1) what training in disability awareness is provided to staff by health trusts in the Province; [194529]
(2) what training on learning disability staff receive from health trusts in the Province; and whether individuals with learning disabilities are involved in any aspect of such training. [194530]
All trusts provide induction training to staff covering disability awareness. In addition, mandatory, role specific and specialist training is provided to enable staff deliver the needs of user groups. Organisations such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Royal National Institute for the Blind are involved in the construction and delivery of training programmes. Staff can also avail of a wide range of other training opportunities provided by in-service training units and other education providers.
I am satisfied that trusts are acutely aware of and are pro-active in recognising their obligations in providing appropriate training for staff who care for users with learning and other disabilities. Where possible, trusts involve disabled people in identifying and delivering appropriate staff training.
Lucy Crawford
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a police investigation has begun into the death of Lucy Crawford, which was broadcast on 21 October. [194801]
A Senior Investigating Officer was appointed to carry out an investigation into the death of Lucy Crawford prior to the UTV insight programme on 21 October 2004.
Medical Schools
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many medical school places there are in the Province. [192871]
For the 2004–05 academic year, 844 Home and EU full-time undergraduate students have been awarded places in the medical school at Queen's University, Belfast. This reflects numbers on all five years of the degree programme in medicine.
Organ Retention
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to assist those in the Province who wish to pursue compensation following the retention without permission of organs of their deceased relatives; and if he will make a statement. [194639]
Since July 2003 my Department has held meetings with the relevant boards, trusts and legal advisers to facilitate a consistent and co-ordinated approach to handling claims for compensation that have arisen from the removal, retention and disposal of human organs at hospital post mortem examinations in Northern Ireland. Compensation claims in respect of coroners' post mortems are a matter for the NI Court Service.
It has been agreed that the possibility of using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in as many cases as possible should be explored with claimants' solicitors, but it is accepted that ADR might not suit all claimants and those who wish to proceed by litigation remain free to do so.
Boards and trusts have agreed to actively seek a speedy solution to as many cases as possible. In addition, my Department has continued to keep the Relatives' Reference Group apprised of any developments in relation to the handling of compensation claims.
Patient Confidentiality
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances doctors in the Province may refuse to provide evidence in court during cases regarding patients who were under their care; and if he will make a statement. [194634]
In almost all respects the duty of a doctor in court proceedings is that of any citizen. They are required to provide evidence to help a court reach its decision. They are not obliged to answer questions that may be considered incriminating. Further, they must maintain patient confidentiality. Confidential matters may be disclosed on the order of the court. There must be a clear legal basis for a doctor refusing to provide evidence, if so ordered.
Pensioners
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to allow those over 65 (a) to claim exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty and (b) access to the Motability Scheme. [194949]
Entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance provides access to(a) Vehicle Excise Duty exemption and (b) the Motability scheme as part of the assistance focused on people who are severely disabled early, or relatively early, in life and who therefore face significantly more difficulties than those who become disabled and develop mobility problems after the age of 65. Attendance allowance, which provides help with the disability-related extra costs of people who experience the onset of disability after age 65, is part of the wide range of support that the Government makes available to older people. There are no plans to change these arrangements.
Previous Convictions (Disclosure)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend to Northern Ireland changes in the legal system that would permit juries in child sex and theft cases to be made aware of previous similar convictions of defendants; and if he will make a statement. [195106]
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 contains provisions in sections 98 to 110 to allow evidence of a defendant's previous convictions and other misconduct to be admitted at trial where these are relevant to the case and provided their value is greater than the risk that such evidence might unduly prejudice the fairness of the trial. These sections of the Act already apply to Northern Ireland. I am currently considering the Home Secretary's proposals for the first categories of offence to be covered by the Act with a view to commencement of the evidence of bad character provisions for Northern Ireland in April 2005.
Special Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside. [194059]
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1380W.
School Expulsions
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were expelled from (a) secondary schools and (b) grammar schools in Northern Ireland in the past five years, broken down by education and library board area. [195237]
The information sought is not available in the form requested. However, the number of pupils in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland who have been expelled in each of the past five years is as follows:
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 BELB 6 19 5 (5) 7 (7) 18 (18) WELB 18 25 19 (19) 16 (16) 12 (10) NEELB 29 20 29 (29) 18 (18) 17 (16) SEELB 6 3 11 (11) 12 (12) 16 (16) SELB 14 16 16 (14) 23 (23) 7 (7) Total 73 83 80 (78) 76 (76) 70 (67)
Note:
Figures in brackets denote the number of pupils expelled from post-primary schools. The Department does not have this breakdown prior to 2000–01.
Constitutional Affairs
Barristers
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the dining requirements necessary to become a barrister are; what plans he has to remove these requirements; and if he will make a statement. [193589]
From the beginning of the 1997–98 academic year the dining requirement forming part of the criteria for call to the Bar was changed. Students are now required to complete 12 qualifying units in order to be called to the Bar. This can be achieved in a number of ways, including attendance at education days and dining sessions (which normally include a lecture). Admission to an Inn is required before registration on the Bar Vocational Course, although many undergraduates join before this stage in order to participate in the activities, use the library, or start dining. At present the Bar have no plans to alter these arrangements. It is possible, though by no means certain, that following the Government's consideration of Sir David Clementi's report, that changes will be made to the training and education requirements.
Correspondence
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he will reply to the hon. Member for Southend, West's letter of 1 September, forwarded to his office from Her Majesty the Queen's Private Secretary, Mr. Montazir Khan; and if he will make a statement. [195836]
My officials wrote to the hon. Member for Southend, West on 15 October requesting further documentation. We have yet to receive a reply. However, to avoid further delay, I wrote to the hon. Member on 1 November on the basis of the documentation we currently hold. I apologise for the delay.
Court of Protection
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many cases since 1974 a receiver has been appointed by the Court of Protection. [195685]
There are presently 19,964 cases under administration where a receiver has been appointed by the Court of Protection.
There are also 3,869 cases where the client has died and case closure proceedings are not complete and 4,991 cases where an application has been made but no receiver has yet been appointed.
In the financial year 2003–04, 6,854 receivers were appointed by the court.
Work and Pensions
Benefit Claimant Appointees
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit claimants there are for whom an appointee has been appointed under Regulation 33 of the Claims and Payments regulations. [195684]
The information requested is not available. The only available information is for the number of pension credit and income support claimants with appointees.
At the end of February 2004 there were 174,700 pension credit appointees.
At the end of February 2004 there were 118,200 income support appointees.
Source: IAD Information Centre
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken on an individual who has applied to be an appointee to make and receive benefits on behalf of a claimant. [195686]
An officer experienced in appointee work will interview the prospective appointee to obtain information from them to establish whether they are an appropriate and suitable person to act.
The officer will also advise the prospective appointee of the roles and responsibilities of the appointment and confirm that they understand these and are willing to undertake them before any appointment is made. They will be asked to sign a declaration that they will act in the best interests of the claimant.
The prospective appointee will also be advised that the appointment can be revoked.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by staff in his Department to ascertain whether a claimant lacks the capacity to manage his benefit income. [195687]
A visiting officer, experienced in appointee work, undertakes an independent assessment of a customer's ability to manage his or her own affairs based on departmental guidelines. In cases where there is doubt, the opinion of a suitably qualified professional may be sought, for example a social worker, community psychiatric nurse or general practitioner.
Benefit Processing
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he expects benefit processing will move from Edgware benefit office to another London location; what the other London location will be; and if he will make a statement. [194848]
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 3 November 2004
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the movement of benefit processing from Edgware Social Security Office.
On 16 September the Secretary of State announced that, subject to further detailed planning, Jobcentre Plus benefit processing would be centralised in 81 sites by 2008.
As part of this process our intention is that the benefit processing work for North London, currently processed in five sites including Edgware, will be moved to Stratford in stages over the first three quarters of next year.
I hope this is helpful.
Consultants
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement. [191736]
The Department for Work and Pensions was established in June 2001.
The information from June 2001 to March 2004 is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many convictions for fraud regarding the payment of housing benefit there have been in the last 12 months. [194150]
In the 12 months up to 30 September 2004, the total number of convictions for fraud regarding housing benefit and council tax benefit was 4,135. Information is not available on the number of convictions for housing benefit only.
Information and Communication Specialists
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department spent on outside information technology and communication specialist consultants and engineers in the 2003–04 financial year. [191914]
The Department for Work and Pensions spent £139.66 million on outside information technology and communication specialist consultants and engineers in the 2003–04 financial year.
Jobcentre Plus Offices
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice on debt management is available from Jobcentre Plus offices. [194501]
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. David Taylor, dated 3 November 2004
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what advice on debt management is available to people from Jobcentre Plus offices. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus has distributed to offices a short leaflet produced by DWP which provides basic information on debt and dealing with it, the benefits of seeking advice and where to obtain it. We have also updated our guidance for Personal Advisers to emphasise the importance of referring customers with debt problems to debt advice provision, and distributed debt fact sheets produced by the Social Exclusion Unit to all districts.
Customers in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) can receive support relating to debt problems via the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus programmes. When required, New Deal Personal Advisers have the discretion to secure suitable provision to enable customers to receive debt counselling and advice.
Jobcentre Plus is also making £3 million available this financial year and a further £3 million in 2005–06 to buy in additional advice, if needed, on debt to help some of our most vulnerable customers return to work. This scheme will enable lone parents, other benefit recipients (excepting those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance), and partners of benefit recipients to get help where debt is proving to be a barrier to taking-up work.
I hope this is helpful.
New Deal
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents in (a) the Edinburgh West constituency, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK. [194989]
The available information is in the following table.
Number of people who have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents
Number Edinburgh West constituency 320 City of Edinburgh local authority 2,250 Scotland 30,620 Great Britain 276,690
Notes:
Figures are from the start of the programme in October 1998 to June 2004, and have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents in (a) the Edinburgh West constituency, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK. [194990]
The available information is in the following table.
Number of people participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents at the end of June 2004
Number Edinburgh West constituency 120 City of Edinburgh local authority 930 Scotland 10,910 Great Britain 106,670
Notes:
1. Figures relate to the number of people participating in New Deal for Lone Parents at the end of June 2004, and have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Telford have secured work through the New Deal for lone parents. [195426]
730 lone parents in Telford have gained work through the New Deal for lone parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Argentina
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(1) whether, under the terms of the Ottawa Convention on landmines, there is an obligation on the Argentine Government to provide funding for landmine clearance in the Falkland Islands; and what obligation for landmine clearance in the Falklands rests with the (a) United Kingdom Government and (b) Argentinean Government; [195588]
(2) what progress has been made under the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and the Argentine Government on landmine clearance in the Falkland Islands; [195589]
(3) which Minister will represent the United Kingdom at the Ottawa Convention Review in Kenya in November; [195590]
(4) what funding the Government have made available for landmine clearance in the Falkland Islands since the Ottawa Convention came into force; [195591]
(5) how many landmines were lifted in the Falkland Islands during the periods (a) 1997 to 2001 and (b) 2001 to 2004; [195592]
(6) what progress has been made in clearing landmines in the Falkland Islands since the Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997. [195593]
Since 1999 and the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention no funds have been specifically dedicated to the clearing of landmines in the Falklands Islands. Given the unpredictability of the environment, landmine clearance in the Falklands is particularly hazardous. Since August 1982 the landmines have been clearly marked and have very little impact on the local community. When landmines do surface they are cleared by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams based on the islands as part of their duties. Between 1997–2001, 156 mines were discovered and destroyed in this way. Between 2001–04, 268 mines were discovered and destroyed.
Under the Ottawa Convention, the obligation to clear all the landmines by 2009 falls upon the United Kingdom. States Parties in a position to do so are obliged to provide assistance for mine clearance and related activities.
On a bilateral basis, the United Kingdom and the Argentine Government signed a Joint Statement in 1999 and under the heading of Confidence-Building it was noted that:
"the two Governments will continue to work together to evaluate the feasibility and cost of clearing the land mines still present in the Falklands Islands."
Subsequently, an Exchange of Notes dated 11 October 2001, detailed how the UK and Argentina should proceed on the landmine issue. It included a provision for the establishment of a Joint Working Group, the first meeting of which took place in Buenos Aires on 3–4 December 2001. The second meeting was in London, on 26–27 October 2004.
At the 2004 meeting a list of action points was agreed, including the need for the preparation of a draft work programme and draft budget for a Feasibility Study, both of which are to be considered at the next Joint Working Group, due to be held in Buenos Aires during the second quarter of 2005.
The composition of the UK delegation to the Ottawa Convention Review Conference has not been decided. It is likely that it will be at senior official level.
Bermuda
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the EU savings directive will be implemented in Bermuda. [195480]
At the European Council of Santa Maria de Feira in June 2000 it was agreed that before the savings directive could be adopted and implemented, reassurances were required from relevant dependent and associated territories (including the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Caribbean Overseas Territories) for the adoption of the same measures, and from key third countries (Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino) for the adoption of equivalent measures.
In June 2004 the member states agreed that the directive would take effect from 1 July 2005, on the basis that assurances had been given by all of the relevant third countries and dependent and associated territories that they would be in a position to apply measures equivalent to (in the case of third countries), or the same as (in the case of territories), those provided for by the directive from 1 July 2005.
Bilateral agreements between the relevant dependent or associated territories and the member states have been prepared so as to apply to each of them the measures under the directive from 1 July 2005.
Bermuda is not included in the list of relevant dependent or associated territories agreed at the Feira European Council.
British Overseas Territories
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each British overseas territory the population and the number of elected representatives at the highest local level of responsible government. [195429]
The details are as follows:
Population Elected representatives Anguilla 12,200(30) 7 Bermuda 62,059(31) 36 British Virgin Islands 21,333(30) 13 Cayman Islands 43,103(30) 18 Falkland Islands 2,913(32) 8 Gibraltar 28,231(32) 15 Montserrat 4,491(32) 9 Pitcairn 47(33) 6 St. Helena and Dependencies St. Helena 3,954(34) 12 Ascension Island 1,002(35) 7 Tristan da Cunha 287(33) 8 Sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus 6,967 Cypriots and approximately 7,800 military and UK-based civilian personnel and their dependants(32) None Turks and Caicos Islands 20,020(32) 13 British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands These territories have no settled population.
(30) 2003 estimate
(31) 2000 census
(32) 2001 census
(33) 2003 count
(34) 2004 estimate
(35) 2004 count
China
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in connection with arrests of Christians in Kaifeng City and Sujiazhuang on 6 August and what representations he has made to the Chinese Government about expanding religious freedom. [195545]
We are aware of the arrests of Christians in Kaifeng City and Sujiazhuang and are monitoring events closely.
I raised human rights concerns with Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui during my visit to China in October this year.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised concerns about religious freedom, including the mass arrests at Kaifeng City and the arrest of 23 members of the Baoding diocese, with Wang Zuo'an, Deputy Director General of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, during his visit to the UK in September.
We also raised religious freedom at the May round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue and made clear that the prohibition of some religious/spiritual groups and the legal restrictions on others are not acceptable.
Departmental Press Officers
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press officers are employed in his Department; and how many were employed in each year since 1996–97. [195358]
holding answer 1 November 2004
There are currently 17 Press Officers working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Press Office. For previous years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 1040W.
Iraq
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans his Department has in place in the event of the elections in Iraq not taking place in January 2005; what later date has been considered as a possible election date; and if he will make a statement on the forthcoming elections. [195153]
We fully support the Iraqi Interim Government's commitment to hold elections in January 2005. All the indications are that a large majority of Iraqis are eager to vote in a free election for the first time in their history. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) supported by the UN are still working to the January timetable for elections. We are doing all we can to support the IECI and the UN to ensure that elections take place on time, as provided for in UNSCR 1556.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his reply of 26 October 2004, Official Report, column 1177W, if he will break down the development of Iraq's national economy, referred to in paragraph 3, page 3 of the ISG, Regime Finance and Procurement, by (a) industry, (b) banking and (c) services; what the value was of each category; and who the financial partners were of such activities. [195194]
The report from the Iraq Survey Group points to the former Iraqi regime implementing strategies, policies and methods to try to terminate sanctions and generate illicit revenue, including under the Oil for Food Programme. We are unable to assess the value of illicit funds generated by each of the banking, industrial and service sectors. However, under the terms of Security Council resolution 1483 (22 May 2003), more than $1 billion of former Iraqi regime assets have so far been frozen internationally and transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq, for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
There have been widespread allegations that a number of individuals and entities around the world were complicit in corruption under the programme, for their own benefit and the benefit of the former regime. However, it would be premature to comment on the allegations and the financial outcome of any possible corruption until the independent inquiry appointed by the UN Secretary-General has reported its findings.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his reply of 26 October 2004, Official Report, column 1177W, if he will list those import items, prohibited under UN sanctions, referred to in paragraph 2, page 3 of the ISG Regime Finance and Procurement, by (a) type, (b) quantity and (c) value; and if he will list those trade intermediaries involved in these activities. [195195]
Under the terms of United Nations Security Council resolutions implementing sanctions and the Oil for Food Programme, Iraq was only permitted to import items approved by the UN Security Council's Iraq Sanctions Committee. The report from the Iraq Survey Group points to the former Iraqi regime implementing strategies to procure illicit goods. We are unable to assess precisely the type, quantity and value of those goods.
There have been widespread allegations that a number of individuals and entities around the world were complicit in corruption under the programme and through smuggling, for their own benefit and the benefit of the former regime. However, it would be premature to comment on the allegations until the independent inquiry appointed by the UN Secretary-General has reported its findings.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(1) pursuant to his answer of 26 October 2004, Official Report, column 1177W, whether he was informed in July 2000 of claims by the Iraqi Ba'athist paper, Al Thawrah, of victory over UN sanctions; and when he urged the UN to take steps to restore sanctions; [195196]
(2) whether he was informed in August 2001 of the statement by Iraqi Foreign Minister Sabri that UN sanctions efforts had collapsed; and when he urged the UN to take steps to restore sanctions. [195199]
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was aware of a number of claims that sanctions were failing. The United Kingdom continually worked hard at the United Nations Security Council to limit Iraq's efforts to erode sanctions, and ensure the effective implementation of the Oil for Food Programme. As the Iraq Survey Group reported, sanctions were successful in curbing Iraq's ability to import weapons and technology. Sanctions were maintained against Iraq from 1990 until the adoption of resolution 1483 on 22 May 2003, when economic sanctions were lifted and the arms embargo was left in place.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps will be taken to protect polling stations in Iraq from suicide bombers. [195216]
The Iraqi Ministry of the Interior is responsible for election security in Iraq. The Iraqi Police Service will provide appropriate security to polling stations, supported if necessary by the Iraqi National Guard. The Multinational Force will continue to support the Iraqi Interim Government in providing area security in order to assist the political process as mandated by UNSCR 1546.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the (a) elections and (b) political parties in Iraq will be organised to meet the constitutional requirement for 25 per cent. of seats to be held by women. [187618]
The UK strongly supports the constitutional requirement for 25 per cent. of the seats in the Transitional National Assembly to be held by women. The Iraqi Electoral Law (CPA Order 96) stipulates (Section 4, Paragraph 3) that,
"No fewer than one out of the first three candidates on the [electoral] list must be woman; no fewer than two out of the first six candidates on the list must be woman; and so forth until the end of the list".