To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the Commission for Africa. [197191]

Following the second successful meeting of the Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, the Commission has produced its consultation document, which is now available on its website. The Commission will be seeking the views of governments, civil society and businesses within and beyond Africa, on this document until 17 December. I hope that hon. Members will continue to feed in their views and comments on the Commission's work over the coming months. I expect that the final report will be published in March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of (a) decoration and (b) refurbishment of the London offices of the Department was in each of the last four years. [196142]

The cost of redecoration and refurbishment of DFID's two London offices in each of the last four years were as follows:

1 Palace Street redecoration:

2000–01: Nil

2001–02: £7,975

2002–03: Nil

2003–04: £615

20 Victoria Street redecoration:

2000–01: Nil

2001–02: Nil

2002–03: Nil

2003–04: Nil

In addition to the above, major refurbishment projects were carried out on the two offices. These were:

1 Palace Street, 2000–01 to 2001–02, total project cost £27 million

20 Victoria Street, 2001–02, total project cost £1.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is his policy to ensure that hospitality within his Department is sourced from fair trade producers wherever possible within the boundaries set by the public procurement rules. [197060]

I can confirm that it is DFID's policy that all tea, coffee and orange juice served within the Department is sourced from fair trade producers. Our external catering company also promotes and make use of fair trade products wherever possible in our staff restaurant.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the current drought in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [196667]

The drought conditions in the Horn of Africa have caused serious stress to the most vulnerable communities in the region, in some cases resulting in humanitarian crisis. DFID is committed to ensuring the most urgent humanitarian needs are met. At the same time, and where possible, DIFD is working with governments to reduce vulnerability to these shocks.

Successive years of drier than normal rainfall conditions especially in the Horn of Africa, during the last five years, have led to reduced pasture and water availability in many key areas—northern Somalia, eastern and southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya, parts of Eritrea, northern Sudan and a part of western Chad.

DFID has doubled humanitarian expenditure in Somalia and Sudan over last year. In Ethiopia DFID is responding to humanitarian needs with direct support and is also working with the Government of Ethiopia to reduce vulnerability to these kinds of shocks in a more sustainable way—while increasing the overall level of resources substantially. DFID has also recently agreed £5 million for humanitarian relief in affected parts of Kenya.

DFID continues to monitor the situation in Somalia and Eritrea and is considering the best means of assistance to address the most urgent humanitarian needs resulting from the drought there.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) expenditure was allocated prior to 6 November 2003 and (b) adjusted expenditure was allocated after 6 November 2003 to middle-income countries for (i) 2003–04, (ii) 2004–05 and (iii) 2005–06; and how much was allocated to (A) South Africa, (B) China, (C) Sri Lanka, (D) Russia, (E) Jamaica, (F) Guyana, (G) Brazil, (H) Bolivia, (I) Serbia and Montenegro, (J) Bosnia, (K) Albania, (L) Kosovo, (M) Belize and (N) Windward Islands in each year. [196036]

On 6 November 2003, I announced changes to DFID's planned bilateral aid programme allocations to middle-income countries for 2004–05 and 2005–06. The changes resulted from decisions taken on the Government's pledge on reconstruction and humanitarian aid in Iraq, together with DFID's commitment to increase the proportion of its bilateral aid going to the poorest countries to 90 per cent. by 2005–06.

Planned bilateral commitments to middle-income countries prior to 6 November 2003 totalled £234 million in 2003–04, £249 million in 2004–05 and £220 million in 2005–06. After 6 November the comparative figures were £443 million, £304 million and £228 million respectively, of which Iraq accounted for £207 million in 2003–04, £91 million in 2004–05 and £86 million in 2005–06.

The following table sets out the changes to allocations in the countries requested:

£ million

⁽¹⁾ This figure represents SACU MIC countries (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland).

⁽²⁾ The reduced allocations for Brazil and Bolivia in 2005–06 are part of a move to a more regional approach, focused on support for the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank's Latin America operations. This is shown in the increased Latin America regional budget for 2005–06.

⁽³⁾ Includes Belize/Windward Islands.

The figures for 2005–06 are indicative planning figures and will be reviewed as part of DFID's annual resource allocation exercise that will conclude in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many internally displaced people are (a) known and (b) estimated to be hosted by camps near Nyala in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [196663]

The most recent UN Humanitarian Profile (October 2004) indicated that approximately 529,000 internally displaced people are in the South of Darfur, of which Nyala is the capital. A large proportion of these are in camps and settlements. The UN reports that 170,963 are internally displaced people known to be hosted in camps in the Nyala area. It is likely that there are further numbers of displaced persons in host communities and recent arrivals due to insecurity moving into the area.

On 2 November, the Government of Sudan forcefully relocated of 6–8,000 internally displaced people from the El Geer camp (previously known as the El Seraif camp) in the Nyala area. This occurred without prior consultation with the UN. It was therefore in breach of the established and agreed mechanism to determine voluntary return and movement of people. The UK strongly condemns any forced relocations, and through our Ambassador to Sudan, has made representations to the Government of Sudan to adhere to its obligations and commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding on Darfur, between the Government of Sudan and the International Organisation for Migration, which prohibits involuntary movement of internally displaced persons. This has been echoed by the EU and UN. DFID continues to monitor the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of internally displaced people in (a) Sudan and (b) Darfur; how many there are estimated to have been in each month since September 2003; and if he will make a statement. [196664]

According to the latest UN Humanitarian Profile in October, there are 1.6 million people displaced in Darfur. It is estimated that a further 4 million have been displaced in Sudan as a whole. In addition there are a further 200,000 displaced from Darfur into Eastern Chad as refugees.

It is very difficult to provide accurate monthly figures of internally displaced people in Sudan as a whole of Darfur due to the issue of access constraints, notably due to problems of security affecting agency movements.

Due to very limited access in Darfur up until April 2004, the UN did not estimate figures on a monthly basis beyond its September 2003 report of 250,000 displaced people. From April 2004 until August, the UN estimated that there were just over 1 million displaced people. From September this figure reached 1.5 million. The reasons for this increase is due to the on-going violence and improving access to Darfur. For Sudan as a whole, the UN has not made monthly estimates. It has been estimated that in September 2003 there were 3.7 million displaced.

The UK continues to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the number of internally displaced people displaced by the conflict in (a) southern Sudan and (b) Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [196665]

It is difficult to determine accurately the numbers of people displaced in Darfur and southern Sudan primarily due to the problem of access. The latest United Nations Humanitarian Profile estimates that approximately 1.6 million people are internally displaced within Darfur as a result of the crisis there. It is estimated that up to 4 million people have been displaced in Sudan as a whole. In addition to this figure, it is estimated that there are 600,000 Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries, of which 200,000 from Darfur have been displaced into Eastern Chad.

The UK continues to press both the Government of Sudan and the rebels to allow greater access as well as pressing all parties to sign and deliver on the Abuja humanitarian protocol. The UK strongly condemns any forced relocations of conflict affected persons.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what action the Electoral Commission is taking to ensure that all British citizens who are living abroad are able to vote in any forthcoming general election. [196735]

The Electoral Commission provides information and advice to British citizens living abroad and has produced a registration form for use by eligible British citizens. The Commission has also provided information to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office both for dissemination to its staff and for use when dealing with inquiries from British citizens resident abroad about their electoral rights in the United Kingdom.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of people (a) living in the US for 15 years or less and (b) living abroad who will be eligible to vote in a UK general election. [196734]

The Electoral Commission has made no estimate of either the number of people living abroad, or of the number who have lived in the United States for 15 years or less, who will be able to vote in a United Kingdom parliamentary election.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the properties occupied by (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004, stating (A) for each and (B) in aggregate, the area; and what the aggregate rental value was in each year. [195129]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002, and thus figures do not exist for 1997. The list of properties occupied on 1 April 2004 is as follows:

⁽⁴⁾ Denotes freehold property. Figures for the rental value of these can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Except where indicated the above properties are occupied either wholly or partly on a leasehold basis. Where the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shares the leasehold occupation with other Government Departments the figures represent only the space occupied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's strategy is for improving inner-city green spaces. [195963]

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

The 8 per cent. increase to 71 per cent. satisfaction with parks and open spaces over the last three years shows that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's programme is working.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what cross-departmental co-operation his Department is encouraging with (a) police, (b) the fire service, (c) local government, (d) the Benefits Agency and (e) the Inland Revenue in implementing the National Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation. [196206]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has close working relations with other Government Departments and relevant bodies that have an interest in the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing scheme. In particular we have worked very closely with the Local Government Association, the Home Office and the Department of Works and Pensions in the development of the licensing scheme and we shall continue to do so as we work towards in its implementation. Local authorities will be responsible for the implementation of the national scheme in their areas and we expect that other relevant bodies, such as the police and fire service, will work with them in achieving this, in so far as they are able to do so.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, columns 450–51W, on affordable housing, what the affordability criteria for the new shared ownership properties are in each London borough; [196823]

(2) whether his Department monitors the number of shared ownership properties built in each London borough that are more expensive than the stated affordability criteria for that area. [196824]

London boroughs' Unitary Development Plans contain policies on the provision of affordable housing generally, in accordance with national planning policy. These policies should define what the authority considers to be affordable in the local plan area in terms of the relationship between local income levels and house prices or rents for different types of households. Affordable housing policies in local plans should not be expressed in favour of any particular form of tenure.

Registered social landlords operating shared ownership schemes are expected to have regard to the affordability of schemes to first time buyers. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not monitor the affordability criteria for shared ownership properties by local authority area. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister keeps the general operation of the scheme funded by the Housing Corporation under review to ensure that it continues to meet our policy objectives and the needs of the intended client group.

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 26 September that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is developing an initiative to help more first time buyers onto the first rung of the housing ladder. The aim is to achieve better value for money and more housing options by making smarter use of public sector-owned land and by driving down construction costs. Details are still being worked up and more information will be set out in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's strategic plan.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Housing Corporation to begin publication of the new Shared Ownership Performance Indicators; and if he will make a statement. [196825]

The Housing Corporation has published the new Shared Ownership Performance Indicators on the 8 November 2004, on its Performance Indicator Profiles website www.housingpis.co.uk.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department have been in each year since 1997. [191380]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002.

The total running costs (Admin Pay Cost and Admin Nonpay Costs) of the Ministers' private offices for the financial year 2003–04 was £1,556,886.0.

The final outturn figures for Departmental running costs are published in Departmental appropriation and resource accounts.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's guidelines on the definition of rough sleepers used for surveys of their numbers. [196517]

The guidance on the definition of rough sleepers for the purpose of count exercises was first published in 1996 and developed in partnership with charities and voluntary organisations helping people sleeping rough.

The definition of people who should be included in rough sleeper counts is clearly set out on page 5 in the guidance. It is:

"People sleeping, or bedded down, in the open air (such as on the streets, or in doorways, parks or bus shelters); people in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or "bashes")."

A copy of the guidance will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The guidance is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_homelessness/documents/page/odpm_home_ 024817.hcsp

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 2002 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [195449]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent in each year since 2002 on employing (a) external management consultants and (b) external human resources consultants; and if he will make a statement. [195764]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 183W.

The Wales Office has not incurred any cost relating to external management consultants and external human resources consultants since 1 April 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of (a) creative work, (b) media spend and (c) administration for his Department's advertising activity has been in each financial year since 1997–98, broken down by contractor. [197303]

The Wales Office runs no publicity campaigns and hence has spent nothing on advertising since its creation in July 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) maximum and (b) average speeds of vehicles along the A27 Lewes bypass were in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [196832]

The Highways Agency does not routinely measure vehicle speeds along the A27 Lewes bypass. Exceptionally, readings were taken at the approaches to the Ashcombe roundabout in February 2002, for use in the design of a proposed speed reduction scheme, as shown in the table:

Miles per hour

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what data local authorities are required to collect on carbon dioxide emissions; and whether this includes emissions from road traffic; [196806]

(2) what the level of carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic was in each local authority area in the last year for which figures are available. [196808]

There is no legal requirement on local authorities to collect data on carbon dioxide emissions in their areas, and there are therefore no centrally held data on carbon dioxide emissions from road transport in each local authority area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the processes involved in the collection of data on carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic. [196807]

The figures for total carbon dioxide emissions from UK road transport are compiled by the National Environmental Technology Centre (NETCEN) and published in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). They are based on DTI annual statistics on fuel sales and the carbon content of the fuels. The NAEI allocates this to different vehicle categories on the basis of fuel consumption rates and total kilometres travelled for each vehicle type.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Advisory Committee on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, (b) the Advisory Committee on the definition and use of compatible technical and operating standards and specifications for the procurement of air traffic management equipment and systems and (c) the Committee on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193389]

A meeting of the market access advisory committee took place during 2003, to consider restrictions on the approaches to Zurich airport. The exact date of the Committee meeting is not recorded. The outcome of the meeting is referred to in Commission Decision 2004/12/EC. The UK Government were not represented. The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

There were no meetings of the other two Committees during the Greek Presidency.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on (a) application of the legislation on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports, (b) unfair pricing practices in maritime transport and (c) application of the legislation on the minimum level of training for seafarers and the recognition of certificates issued by training institute or administrations of third countries met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193394]

There were no meetings of the Committee on the application of the legislation on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports during the Greek presidency.

UK involvement in the Committee on unfair pricing is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

During the Greek Presidency, there were three meetings of the Committee on seafarer training, on 6 February, 12 February and 4 March 2003. All took place in Brussels. The meeting discussed the text of proposed amendments to Directive 2001/25. Department for Transport and Maritime and Coastguard Agency officials attended. The identities of the individuals concerned are withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on (a) application of legislation on application of tonnage measurement of ballast spaces in segregated ballast of oil tankers, (b) minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods and (c) the transfer of ships from one register to another within the Community met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193395]

No meetings of these Committees took place during the Greek presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system, (b) the Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods and (c) the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of recording equipment in road transport (tachographs) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193007]

During the Greek Presidency there were two meetings of the Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system, on 4 February 2003 and 23–24 June 2003. Both took place in Brussels. The UK was represented at these meetings by the Strategic Rail Authority. The Committee is primarily responsible for assisting and overseeing the production, adoption and revision of Technical Standards of Interoperability (TSIs). The purpose of these specifications is to technically harmonise the European railway supply market. The Committee oversees the development of these TSIs for both the High Speed (96/48/EC) and the Conventional Interoperability (2001/16/EC) Directives. During the specified period, the Committee discussed principles for the drafting groups to adhere to in writing the TSIs and monitored the progress being made on the production of these TSIs. It also considered the cost-benefit analyses that accompany the TSIs and the co-ordination of notified bodies (organisations appointed in Europe to verify compliance with TSIs.). The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

The Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods met once during the Greek Presidency, on 4 June 2003 in Brussels. It discussed derogations and modifications of the annexes to three Directives on the transport of dangerous goods. It also discussed the date of implementation of the transportable pressure equipment Directive and the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

The Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of recording equipment in road transport (tachographs) met once during the Greek Presidency, on 26 June 2003 in Brussels. It considered and approved amendments to the technical specification to Commission Regulation (EC) 1360/2002, adapting to technical progress Council Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport (tachographs). These amendments were subsequently published as a corrigendum to that regulation.

Where a UK Government official attended the name is withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the (a) Advisory Committee on transport, (b) Community-Switzerland Transport Committee (rail and road) and (c) Committee on the system of charging for the use of transport infrastructure met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the committees produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193011]

Information in respect of the Advisory Committee on Transport is not centrally available.

The Management Committee for the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation on the carriage of Goods by Road and Rail met on 19 February 2003, in Brussels.

The Committee on the system of charging for the use of transport infrastructure did not meet during the Greek Presidency.

The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

Where a UK Government official attended the name is withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the (a) Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European telecommunications networks, (b) Advisory Committee on the management of the research programme for management and storage of radioactive waste and management of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste and (c) Advisory Committee on measures to be taken in the event of a crisis in the market in the carriage of goods by road and for laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a member state met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the committees produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193012]

UK involvement in the Committees at(a) and (b) is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

There were no meetings of the Advisory Committee on crisis management in the haulage industry during the Greek Presidency.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Committee on implementation of Protocol 9 to the Act of Austria concerning transport by road and rail and combined transport (Ecopoints), (b) the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of roadworthiness tests of vehicles and (c) the Committee for a transparent system of harmonised rules for restrictions on heavy goods vehicles involved in international transport on designated roads met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193015]

The Ecopoints Management Committee met twice during the Greek Presidency, on 7 May and 10 June 2003, in Brussels. The identity of the UK Government official who attended is withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

There were no meetings of the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of roadworthiness tests of vehicles during the Greek Presidency.

As the Community has yet to adopt legislation on harmonised driving restrictions no such Committee exists.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on the driving licence met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193019]

The European Commission's Committee on the driving licence met three times during the Greek presidency of the EU, on 7 February 2003, 28 March 2003 and 29 April 2003, in Brussels. Officials from the Department for Transport, the Driving Standards Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency attended as necessary to cover the matters raised. Their identities are withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Items discussed at these meetings included medical standards, driving licence codes (which codify the entitlements which an individual's licence confers) and vehicle adaptation for disabled people, driving test requirements and Commission research projects. The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the development of the Community railways met, (b) the Advisory Committee for the application of uniform principles on costing for railway undertakings and (c) the Advisory Committee for the harmonisation and comparability of the accounting and annual accounts of railway undertakings met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193020]

The Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the development of the Community railways met once in this period, on 31 January 2003, in Brussels. The UK was represented by officials from the Department for Transport and the Office of the Rail Regulator. The identity of the individuals concerned is withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The main agenda items were a tour de table on the status of the implementation of the Infrastructure Package Directives (Directives 2001/12/EC, 2001/13/EC, 2001/14/EC), reports on managing the transition process until full implementation of the infrastructure package Directives, and an outline from the European Commission on its intentions for future legislation in the railways sector. The Commission subsequently adopted new proposals in March 2004 as the Third Rail Package.

Also during the Greek Presidency, the European Commission published a draft proposal for a recommendation on the use of a common European format for licences issued in accordance with Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertakings. This recommendation was based on advice from the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the development of the Community railways. The Commission adopted the recommendation on 7 April 2004 and published in the Official Journal on 20 April 2004 (L313).

Neither the Advisory Committee for the application of uniform principles on costing for railway undertakings nor the Advisory Committee for the harmonisation and comparability of the accounting and annual accounts of railway undertakings met in this period.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road passenger transport services within a member state, (b) the Committee on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway and (c) the Advisory Committee on aids to transport by rail, road and inland waterway met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193021]

None of these Committees met during the Greek Presidency. Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Committee on the development of trans-European transport networks, (b) the Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European energy networks and (c) the Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European transport networks met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193022]

The Committee on the development of trans-European transport networks met twice during the Greek Presidency, on 4 March and 3 June 2003, in Brussels. The agenda comprised items regarding progress towards completion of the TEN-T and its further development.

UK involvement in the Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European energy networks is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

The Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European transport networks met once during the Greek Presidency, on 30 June 2003, in Brussels. The agenda comprised issues regarding the financing of the network and the projects of common interest on it.

Where a UK Government official attended the name is withheld under exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

The other information requested would require an unreasonable diversion of resources to obtain.

Details of developments during the Greek Presidency can be found in Cm6097 "Developments in the European Union, January to June 2003, the Greek Presidency" which was laid before Parliament in January 2004 and is available at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to ensure that hospitality within his Department is sourced from Fair Trade producers wherever possible within the boundaries set by the public procurement rules. [197058]

At the Department's headquarters building, Great Minster House, the hospitality arrangements include the provision of Fair Trade bulk brew filter coffee and Down to Earth Fair Trade enveloped tea. The restaurant also serves the above as well as Fair Trade sweets and chocolate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to made decisions on changing airport flight paths into London Heathrow airport. [196534]

Routes within UK airspace are subject to regulation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and changes are agreed by the CAA against criteria set out in its Civil Air Publications 724 and 725, available on the CAA website. These include consideration of the operational, environmental, economical and safety impacts of any changes. Under section 66 of the Transport Act 2000, the Secretary of State for Transport has issued Directions to the CAA requiring it to take account of environmental and other considerations and to seek his approval in certain circumstances.

There are no set routes for arriving aircraft between the point where they leave a holding "stack" and the point where they join the Instrument Landing System for final approach. Aircraft are individually directed by Air Traffic Control who ensure safe traffic separation, but they are also required whenever practicable to follow "continuous descent approach" with a view to minimising noise impacts.

Aircraft departing Heathrow are required to follow specific paths called noise preferential routes which are designed as far as possible to minimise over-flight of built-up areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the evidential basis is of his statement that there is an increase in motorcycle casualty rate per mile at 33BHP. [195999]

We have made no such statement. However, we are aware of reports attributed to the Government that we would like motorcyclists to have experience on a 125cc motorcycle for two years before gaining access to a larger motorcycle. We certainly believe that some motorcyclists who gain their licence via Direct Access arrangements, allowing them to ride large motorcycles without earlier experience on a smaller machine, are at risk, simply through inexperience of riding a powerful motorcycle.

The Advisory Group on Motorcycling (AGM), amongst other things, concluded that since the majority of novice riders choose to pass their test via the Direct Access route, as a relatively fast route to big bike riding, it is timely for the Government to consider its effectiveness (a copy of the report is lodged with the House). We will do so, in the context of wider ranging AGM suggestions and recommendations for the future of motorcycling. Should that review lead to proposals for change, we would consult before implementing them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the Birmingham Northfield Relief Road project in relation to (a) transport movements in the area and (b) regeneration of South West Birmingham. [196718]

The Northfield Relief Road was given provisional approval for funding under the Local Transport Programme in December 2000 in the light of an appraisal carried out by Birmingham city council which included consideration of the contribution the scheme would make to improved transport movements and regeneration of the area it serves. The appraisal included benefits such as improved journey times, improved access for pedestrians and buses and improving the vitality and viability of the Northfield shopping area. Following completion of statutory procedures an updated appraisal was received in July 2004 in support of a request from Birmingham city council for full approval of this scheme which is currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to protect the security of railway tunnels and bridges since 2001. [196308]

The Department for Transport, British Transport Police and other central Government agencies support the rail industry in security matters affecting operations and infrastructure. It would be inappropriate to provide details of the specific measures taken for obvious reasons

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken in conjunction with the Metropolitan police to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the roads of Greater London. [196536]

The steps already taken to deal with the problem of uninsured driving include a review of motor insurance arrangements in the UK by Professor David Greenaway and, following publication of his report on 11 August, the setting up of an implementation board to see that action follows.

Working jointly with the insurance industry we now plan to introduce legislation, improve procedures and design education, publicity and enforcement programmes to drive down uninsured driving. These measures will be available to all police forces in Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the projected improvement is in emissions from aircraft engines over the next 25 years on which Government predictions of emissions are based. [195088]

I have been asked to reply.

In February 2004, the Government published technical reports in support of the Air Transport White Paper that include projections of improvement in aircraft engine emissions. The report "Aviation and Global Warming" includes assessments of fleet renewal, fuel efficiency improvement and emissions improvement. The report Air Quality Assessments Supporting the Government's White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" focuses more on prospects for engine improvements in emissions of oxide of nitrogen (NOx ). Technology projections relate to different timescales up to 2030 and span a range of emissions performance given uncertainty over proving technologies and bringing them to market. These technical reports are available at www.aviation.dft.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether carcases of horses and donkeys may be buried on the owner's land under the Animal By-products Regulations. [196270]

The regulation allows member states to apply for various derogations regarding the disposal of animal by-products, and, among others, we have applied the derogation to permit the burial of dead pet animals. However, this does not automatically mean that all horses and donkeys may be buried.

The definition of a pet animal given within the regulation is: any animal belonging to species normally nourished and kept, but not consumed, by humans for purposes other than farming.

The situation with regard to equines is complicated. Although it can be argued that humans within the UK do not consume members of the equine family, the UK does export horses/ponies which may be used for human consumption. Under a strict interpretation the EU regulation would, therefore, ban the burial of pet equines but we would expect local authorities, who enforce the legislation, to take a sensible approach to the burial of horses that are clearly pets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding the Government have given to the National Bee Unit for the current financial year; how many bee inspectors there are; what estimate has been made of the number of bees under serious threat from the varroa mite; and what advice and assistance is given by the National Bee Unit to beekeepers in the South West. [194159]

In the current financial year the National Bee Unit will receive funding of £1,235,000 from Defra and £283,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government.

There are 45 bee inspectors in England and Wales of whom 36 are part-time, seasonal bee inspectors.

It is estimated that there are 250,000 honey bee colonies in England and Wales, maintained by some 37,000 beekeepers. Since varroa is now endemic throughout almost the whole of the United Kingdom, its presence is a challenge to all beekeepers but this can be managed through good bee husbandry.

In addition to the statutory inspection programme, which has given rise to over 900 visits and the inspection of almost 4,000 colonies in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset between April and September 2004, the NBU provides laboratory diagnoses, the destruction or treatment of colonies infected with European Foul Brood, and a testing programme for varroa resistance to treatment with pyrethroids. Over 2,500 beekeepers attended advisory lectures, field demonstrations and liaison meetings provided by NBU in the South West in 2003–04. Beekeepers in the region also have access to a national telephone help-line, advisory leaflets and the NBU website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department was first informed of the existence of a video of Burnside Farm taken by Northumberland Trading Standards officers on 23 February 2001; and when her Department first obtained a copy of the video. [194308]

holding answer 28 October 2004

A Defra official was present at Burnside Farm on 24 February 2001 when the video of the conditions on the farm was being made by Northumberland Trading Standards Department. Defra officials saw some of the video when it was shown at Robert Waugh's trial in May 2002. Defra recently obtained copies of the video when it was referred to in correspondence received by Defra officials on 30 September 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a representative of her Department was present at the trial of Mr. Bobby Waugh for breach of his waste food feeding licence in May 2002. [194307]

holding answer 28 October 2004

The trial was attended by four officials from Defra, three of whom gave evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of continuous service for civil servants within the Department is. [194399]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 268W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) scientific and (b) socio-economic objections to the designation of (i) Bolton Fell Moss and (ii) Solway Moss as special areas of conservation are; and when she expects to conclude each consultation. [194493]

Generic scientific issues raised by the objectors to the proposed SAC designations on Bolton Fell and Solway Moss are:

that sites which are mainly areas of bare peat is contrary to EU and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) guidance;

sites with bare peat do not contain National Vegetation Classification (NVC) plant communities typical of raised bogs;

the designation of these two peatland sites in conjunction with others already classified as cSACs is not necessary to achieve favourable conservation status for raised bogs;

the National Peatland Resource Inventory has been wrongly interpreted which has led to far more degraded raised bogs being selected as pSACs than is necessary to satisfy the guidance received from the European Commission;

the site selection process was partial and ad hoc and the criteria was written after sites were selected instead of developing the selection criteria and then selecting sites;

English Nature did not consider selecting sites which were wooded, afforested or contained peat underlying agricultural sites;

English Nature placed undue emphasis on the restorability and/or size of the site when selecting sites and this overrode other considerations;

that contextual information required to list appropriate areas of active and degraded raised bogs is not available, and finally, that English Nature did not follow JNCC guidance on the number of sites to be selected from the first moderation process.

Objections on socio-economic grounds to both designations are:

local employment issues concerning the closure of peat-extraction operations at either site;

loss of revenue to landowner from peat-extraction operator; after-use restriction on ability of landowner at Bolton Fell Moss to generate income following end of peat extraction.

Once the scientific objections have been resolved, and it is confirmed that the sites meet the selection criteria for SAC protection, they will be designated forthwith. It is not currently clear how long this will take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last outbreak of contagious equine metritis in British horses was recorded; and where. [194937]

The last outbreak of contagious equine metritis in Great Britain occurred in late 2002 in Staffordshire, with the last individual case linked to this outbreak occurring in early 2003, again in Staffordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 October, Official Report, columns 695–96W, on cormorants, what action is being taken through the European Union to tackle cormorant numbers at a European level. [194811]

holding answer 1 November 2004

At the European level the REDCAFE group (Reducing the conflict between cormorants and fisheries on a Pan-European scale) was set up in 2001, to synthesise current cormorant and fisheries information and identify and evaluate methods of reducing Europe-wide conflict between conservationists and fishery interests. Initial conclusions emphasise site-specific management as the key. Further work has been agreed, on an inter-disciplinary approach taking account of social and economic interests. Discussions at ORNIS (the EC Committee covering the Birds Directive), also covered the Development of a Framework for Biodiversity Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The data from REDCAFE will be input into this process, along with other European initiatives such as the IMEW (Integrated Management of European Wetlands). The RAP aims to fully quantify the problems, develop a solution and provide synthesis and dissemination of the results. This process will provide a participatory decision strategy. The approach is being supported with EU research funding, and member states are also encouraged to participate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the Department's (a) implemented and (b) planned computer systems use open source software; and what plans are in place to raise this level. [195657]

The information is as follows:

(a) The percentage of implemented computer systems in Defra that use open source operating systems such as Linux is small, less than 5 per cent., but many Defra systems comply with the Government eGIF standards that allow easy and open exchange of data.

(b) Defra has recently outsourced its IT operations. There are no targets imposed on the supplier to implement open source software, a level playing field will apply in procurement of software solutions. The IT supplier is bound to work within eGIF standards and many of the planed IT systems will include a significant proportion of open source code. In addition the supplier will be conducting a number of additional pieces of work to test the business benefits to Defra of extending the use of open source.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for transposing Directive 2002/49/EC into UK law. [195203]

Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise requires that member states of the European Union must comply with Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise by 18 July 2004 (Article 14). Unfortunately, due to the practical complexities of the Directive the UK has been unable to meet this deadline.

We are continuing to work to comply with the Directive as soon as possible and we will be putting our proposed approach to complying with the Directive to public consultation in due course. We will use the responses to the consultation to inform our final approach to complying with the Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many equines were exported from the UK in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [193517]

holding answer 27 October 2004

Available information on the number of equines certified for export from the UK is as follows:

The figures are derived from computer based systems introduced in late 1996 relating to export health certification from the UK. The figures are subject to updating and amendment.

Except for part of 2001 and 2002, the figures exclude the movement of certain horses to France and Ireland which, under a Tripartite Agreement, do not require export health certification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with organic certification bodies on the effect that non-burial of fallen stock might have on the soil's microbiology. [193624]

Although no specific consultation has taken place with organic certification bodies the Department undertook an extensive public consultation process in respect of the Animal By-products Regulation, which bans on-farm burial of fallen stock. Several of the certification bodies, notably the Soil Association, have made the Department aware of their concerns that the effect that non-burial of fallen stock might have on the soil's microbiology. These concerns have been duly noted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have signed up to the National Fallen Stock Scheme. [196112]

None. We will not know how many farmers will register until the scheme begins on 22 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which funding streams have been allocated by her Department using a funding formula which includes rankings or scores on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; and if she will list the amount of funding allocated in such a way (a) nationally by the Department or (b) to all Government sponsored bodies reporting to the Department. [191529]

Defra has four funding streams which have been allocated taking account of the Index of Multiple Deprivation. In all cases the Index has contributed to identifying the least well performing rural areas in terms of economic productivity but, other factors, including quality of application and nature of enterprise, are taken into account in awarding projects. The first two funding streams below are both part of the Department's Rural Voluntary and Community Sector and Social Inclusion Programme.

(a) Nationally:

(1) A contribution to The Pensions Partnership Fund which seeks to increase benefits uptake by the elderly. £834,000 has been allocated in 2004–05 to fund projects in the priority wards in rural areas.

(2) An action research contract examining social enterprise in rural areas. Some £500,000 has been allocated in 2004–05 to fund projects in four English Regions, with priority being given to those which operate in priority wards.

(3) For the Warm Front programme, the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 has not been used as a sole indicator for any allocation purposes. It is considered with a number of other indices—including the fuel poverty indices under the English House Condition Survey. In 2004–05 the Fuel Poverty budget is £169 million.

(4) Defra uses the Index as one of a number of measures which contribute to the priority scores of proposed flood and coastal erosion risk management improvement projects, when considering which projects should receive grant from the ring-fenced national budget. The budget being allocated in 2004–05 is £56 million across local authorities and internal drainage boards.

(b) Government Sponsored Bodies:

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by Defra and its share of the flood and coastal erosion risk management improvement projects funding in 2004–05 is £76 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the methodology for drawing up a noise map for Heathrow. [195090]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has not received any representations on the methodology for drawing up a noise map for Heathrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to publish (a) a strategic noise map for Heathrow, (b) an action plan to manage noise issues around Heathrow and (c) a public consultation on plans to manage noise levels at Heathrow. [195204]

Strategic noise maps and action plans for Heathrow and other specified airports will be produced as part of the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise (the Environmental Noise Directive). There will be public consultation on the action plans as this is also a key requirement of the Environmental Noise Directive. Details of proposed options to transpose the Directive will be put out to public consultation in due course.

Noise from aircraft using Heathrow is regulated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, under section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. The DfT's Stage 1 consultation on night restrictions from 30 October 2005 closed on 29 October and the second stage of this consultation process will be undertaken in due course.

Daytime noise at Heathrow was considered in last year's consultation on the "Future of Air Transport in the UK—South East" and "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper (Cm 6046) set out (paras 11.52–53) the Government's view that all practicable steps should be taken to prevent any deterioration in the noise climate there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will start the work to produce a strategic noise map for Heathrow. [195205]

Details of our proposed options to transpose the Directive will be put out to public consultation in due course. That will include proposals regarding the competent authorities for the production of strategic noise maps for airports under Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise (the Environmental Noise Directive).

A pilot project to produce noise contours for Heathrow in terms of noise indicator required by the Environmental Noise Directive (Lden) was carried out in 2003 by the Civil Aviation Authority for Defra as part of the development of the National Ambient Noise Strategy. These contours have been published and can be seen at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/mapping/aviation/index.htm

In addition daytime noise contours for Heathrow are produced annually for the Department for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she is offering to (a) central and (b) local government on public procurement with regard to assisting local food chains. [194283]

Defra has published advice on its website to help central and local government implement the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI). A key objective is to increase the opportunities for small and local suppliers to compete to supply food to public sector bodies.

Within the EC policy and legal framework they can inform local suppliers of forthcoming contract opportunities and explain to them how the procurement process works and what is expected of them. There is also scope to specify more in-season food, rather than out of season or exotic produce that can only be supplied from abroad, and to organise the size of contracts and lots within contracts so that small and local suppliers have more chance of being able to meet demands. Public bodies do, of course, have an overarching duty to secure value for money and so must ensure that the measures they adopt to encourage more supplies of local food are proportionate and justified. They are also required by the EC treaty, the EC procurement directives and the UK regulations that implement them to ensure that public procurement is fair, transparent and not used to discriminate by setting up barriers to free trade. We are also encouraging public sector bodies to work with their food service companies to play an active part in achieving this aim by ensuring that local suppliers are given opportunities to be part of their supply chains, provided they are able to provide value for money and meet their requirements on quality, consistency of supply and food safety etc.

The newly restructured PSFPI website contains more detailed guidance, best practice case studies (including one for South Gloucestershire schools) and links to other sources of useful information. URL: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/index.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 her Department has oversight and their posting online; and what the average interval was in the latest year for which figures are available. [195398]

Defra statements, announcements and documents are published on the departmental website as soon as possible—generally on the same day or the following day. Operational procedures and resources of staff and equipment are continually reviewed and reassessed with the aim of minimising the number of occasions when it is not possible for statements to be published on the website on the same day as they are made available through other channels.

Information on posting targets for material published by public bodies for which Defra has oversight is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of producing and distributing the Rural Services Review, including staff time allocated to the project. [195277]

The Rural Services Review, published on 1 November 2004, continues the commitment from the Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: the future" to inform rural people how they can ensure fair access to public services for their community.

The total cost of production and distribution of the Rural Services Review is set out in the table:

Cost of Rural Services Review

⁽⁵⁾ These costs are based upon estimates as final invoices have not yet been received.

⁽⁶⁾ Defra staff costs for this project were £22,864. This figure is based upon average pay rates, by grade and location and includes accommodation overheads.

The total production, distribution and staff costs give a unit cost for the Rural Services Review of £1.68 a copy.

The Rural Services Review came about as a consequence of the evaluation of the Rural Services Standard, which took place during 2003. The review builds upon the recommendations of the independent evaluation report produced by the University of Gloucester. A copy of this report is available on the Defra website at http://defraweb/rural/pdfs/rss_review.pdf.

The Rural Services Review identifies key standards that affect people living and working in the countryside and illustrates the difference the standards can make, through the use of case studies. Copies of the review are available through Defra publications (08459 556000) or online at www.defra.gov.uk/rural/services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003. [194430]

The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate requires all Departments to source at least 15 per cent. of electricity from Good Quality Combined Heat and Power by 2010 (with allowance made for those Departments that already purchase 100 per cent. renewable energy.) Within Defra the following action has been taken:

31 March 2004 Defra and its Executive Agencies sourced 15.3 per cent. of electricity used from Good Quality CHP plant on our own estate.(a) In the year ending

(b) A further Good Quality CHP plant is to be installed in a major refurbishment project at one of Defra's HQ buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tsars have been appointed with responsibilities which cover part of the work of her Department; and if she will make a statement. [191918]

The Secretary of State has not appointed any tsars covering the work of any part of the Department.

To ask the Solicitor-General what measures (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) the Serious Fraud Office, (c) the Treasury Solicitor's Office and (d) the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers (i) has undertaken and (ii) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003. [194438]

The Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers do not currently occupy premises whose heating and electrical supplies are provided by CHP systems. Each Department regularly reviews their heating and electrical power consumption to ensure that the supplies they use are obtained and consumed in the most sustainably efficient and cost effective way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons parts of the Cullen report on Dunblane are to be protected for 100 years; and if he will make a statement. [190639]

This is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

The Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937 makes provision for the preservation, care and custody of the public records of Scotland. There is not, however, any statutory basis for closure of records created by Scottish public bodies.

By contrast, in England and Wales the Public Records Act 1958 (as amended by the Public Records Act 1967) sets a statutory "closure period" of 30 years after which records must, with limited exceptions, be made available to the public. The 1937 Act does not impose similar obligations on Scottish Executive departments, but in practice those procedures are followed in Scotland.

The criteria for closures longer than 30 years were defined in a White Paper on Open Government published in 1993 (Cm 2290), which stated that it is for the department responsible for depositing the material to decide on the closure period.

Documents containing information about individuals, whose disclosure would cause either substantial distress, or endangerment from a third party to persons affected by disclosure or their descendants can be subject to a variable closure period of between 40 and 100 years.

At the conclusion of Lord Cullen's inquiry, the papers were lodged with the then Scottish Record Office. As is normal practice, the closure periods were identified by the SRO, in consultation with the Secretary to the Inquiry and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. In light of the obvious sensitivities in relation to the information about children and alleged offences against them the productions were closed for 100 years. This closure was in accordance with the Government guidelines published in the White Paper "Open Government" Cm 2290 (1993) and Lord Cullen was content with these arrangements.

However, subsequently the Lord Advocate decided that the material from the Dunblane inquiry should be catalogued by staff at the National Archives of Scotland in a way which did not lead to the identification of children. The cataloguing of the productions has recently been completed. Officials from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are currently reviewing this material and considering what information is suitable for release either in its entirety or in an edited format. However, the sensitive nature of the information contained in some of the material will obviously prevent its release before the end of the 100-year closure period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has been informed that the Scottish Executive plans to bring forward a sewel motion in respect of the proposals contained in the Gambling Bill; and if he will make a statement. [196311]

Following consultation with Scottish Ministers, the Gambling Bill contains provisions conferring functions in reserved areas on the Scottish Ministers. Since the Bill therefore varies the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers the consent of the Scottish Parliament will therefore be sought by the Scottish Executive in accordance with the Sewel Convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigation has been undertaken into the closure of the Accident Group; and if she will institute an inquiry by her Department into the affairs of that company. [195115]

A winding up order was made against AG (Manchester) Ltd. (formerly called The Accident Group Ltd.) on 15 January 2004. As a result, the Official Receiver was appointed first liquidator and has a duty to investigate the causes of the company's failure and generally it's promotion, formation, business, dealings and affairs and the conduct of its directors. These investigations are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to investigate the activities of the Better Health Global group of companies in (a) Ireland, (b) Belgium, (c) Australia and (d) Canada; and if she will make a statement. [195837]

The Department does not have authority to investigate the affairs of companies which are registered and trading in a foreign jurisdiction and does not comment on the affairs of live companies that are not the subject of insolvency proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has held with the Crown Prosecution Service about the conduct of the directors of Better Health Global Ltd. and the BHG Group of companies; and if she will make a statement. [195839]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the correspondence from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding the case of Mr. Frederick Jones of Neston Drive, Bulwell, Nottingham, following the judgment in Meadows v. North London Securities. [196286]

I would like to thank my hon. Friend for bringing this case to my attention. You will understand that I am unable to intervene in individual cases such as this, which must be resolved by agreement between the parties or by recourse to the courts.

As my hon. Friend is aware I have written to John Vickers, Chair of the Office of Fair Trading, alerting him to the complaints made to me about this lender by a number of hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set an upper limit on interest rates for consumers taking out credit contracts. [196390]

The DTI commissioned research into the effect of interest rate ceilings in France, Germany and the USA, which found that: lenders do not provide credit for small loans repayable over a short period, excluding some low-income consumers from the market or leading others to take out larger loans than they need; the choice of products is reduced, limiting competition; some low-income consumers will take out credit on products that have extra charges that are not included in the interest rate calculation, but which low income consumers are particularly likely to incur, such as late payment charges; and the percentage of consumers who admitted to having borrowed from unlicensed or illegal lenders was twice as high in Germany and France as in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that customers taking out credit agreements have clear, comprehensive and understandable information on (a) interest charges, (b) other charges and (c) penalties. [196391]

The White Paper "Clear, Fair and Competitive—The Consumer Credit Market in the 21st Century" set out the Governments' plans to increase the quality and transparency of information available to consumers about the costs and other terms of credit at all stages in the contractual process.

To that end, Regulations have already been made governing the advertising of consumer credit; the provision of pre-contractual information; and the form and content of credit agreements.

The Consumer Credit (Advertisements) Regulations 2004 which came into force on 31 October this year—require lenders to present a balanced picture of the costs of a product; and establish the typical APR as the prime comparator.

The Consumer Credit (Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 will require lenders to disclose full details about interest and other charges in the credit agreement. Penalties are illegal under consumer credit law. Interest charges will need to be listed under the prescribed "Key Financial Information" heading. Other charges will need to be listed under the "Other Financial Information" and "Key Information" headings. The Consumer Credit (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2004 require the lender to provide similar information in advance of the agreement being made. Both of these Regulations come into force on 31 May 2005.

The Government have also announced their intention to introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits that will include proposals to require creditors to provide debtors with regular information about the state of their accounts throughout the life of the agreement, including:

providing an annual statement showing the activity on the account for the previous 12 months for fixed term agreements of more than one year in length;

providing information about sums in arrears when the debtor gets into arrears for all forms of credit (e.g. loans and credit cards);

providing information about fees, charges and interest applied to the account where there is a default; and

providing debtors with information sheets published by the OFT and setting out user-friendly and relevant information about managing debt issues and seeking advice with all arrears and default notices.

It is proposed that failure by a creditor to provide the required information may mean that the creditor cannot enforce the agreement or recover interest in respect of the period of their failure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had in respect of the future round of EU Regional Development Aid. [196787]

I and my ministerial colleagues are in regular contact with Ministers from other member states, representatives of the European Commission, and Members of the European Parliament regarding the reform of the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds. At the same time, we meet regularly with stakeholders in the UK and their representatives to explain the Government's position on reform of the funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Standing Committee on the Approximation of the Laws relating to Construction Products met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (A) the EU and (B) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. [195572]

I have been asked to reply.

The Standing Committee on Construction met once during this period on 13–14 May 2003 in Brussels. The UK Government experts present were Tariq Nawaz and Stephen Phillips.

Recommendations produced by the Committee during this period were in the form of agreements to proposals and consultations of the Committee and are contained either in the minutes of the above meeting or the exchanges of correspondence which have been made available in the Library of the House. The actions proposed and taken by the EU and the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations are contained either in the minutes of the meeting or in the correspondence referred to above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on loan sharks; and if she will make a statement. [195772]

Loan sharks are moneylenders who operate illegally and unregulated outside the current Consumer Credit Licensing regime.

Illegal loan sharks prey on vulnerable consumers and their sometimes brutal methods of obtaining repayment can cause great suffering and hardship in communities.

To tackle this problem on 6 September 2004 I launched the Loan Shark Pilot, which will be operated by Birmingham and Glasgow Trading Standards Department. Both Departments have established teams of investigators who will investigate complaints received from members of the public about illegal money lenders.

The Government have committed £2 million over a period of two years to the project. A campaign has commenced in both cities advertising the presence of the illegal money lending teams and they have both been inundated with calls from members of the public. The teams are already investigating more than 40 live cases. The Birmingham team has recently announced that one arrest has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much ring-fenced money for classroom building projects has been given to schools in (a) Wansdyke, (b) Bath and North East Somerset and (c) South Gloucestershire in each year since 1997. [196763]

Capital funding is largely allocated to local authorities and schools by needs related formulae and supported through the Single Capital Pot. Decisions on how resources should be allocated are taken locally in accordance with their asset management plans. The capital allocations for Bath and North East Somerset and for South Gloucestershire in each year since 1997 are set out in the table. The Department does not hold details of capital allocations by constituency.

£000

⁽⁷⁾ Allocated on new pupil places criteria, but not ring-fenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) schools and (b) universities in England utilise combined heat and power. [195942]

Neither DfES nor HEFCE collect these statistics. However we do know that there are a large number of CHP installations in universities. They are popular where there are large energy loads. Some local authority district CHP schemes supply a school as well as local housing and other community buildings. Smaller micro-chp units are also currently being trialled where the school has a large enough heat load throughout the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [194604]

My Department undertakes 'Character Enquiry' checks prior to any unconditional offers of employment being made as part of its recruitment procedures. The procedure requires potential recruits to complete a stencil detailing any current or previous criminal convictions. Any declared convictions are followed up by obtaining details directly from the relevant courts. Decisions on whether the information would prevent the Department from offering the individual an appointment are taken as appropriate at this stage.

Additionally, procedures are in place for serving staff to report any convictions received since their employment with the Department commenced. If the position requires working in direct contact with children or vulnerable adults, Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks are carried out prior to any unconditional offers of employment being made. The information is available to staff and managers via the Department's Intranet. Personal criminal convictions, are potentially disciplinary issues, as is the failure to declare a conviction.

It is DfES policy to ensure that its IT systems and the information they contain are secure, while letting those in DfES carry out its business. All access to the Internet are monitored internally by the Department's Information Services. Again, IT misuse policy is available through the Department's Intranet system, and staff are required to familiarise themselves with the Department's guidance on IT security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the Department's (a) implemented and (b) planned computer systems use open source software; and what plans are in place to raise this level. [195658]

Currently less than 1 per cent. of the Department's computer systems use Open Source Software in the Department. Also none of the planned computer systems will make use of Open Source Software.

Our future use of Open Source Software will follow the Government policy as published in version 2 of the Open Source Software policy on 28 October 2004.

The draft policy document is available for viewing at http://www.govtalk.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2004; and if he will make a statement. [195454]

The number of press notices issued by the Department for Education and Skills in each month of 2004 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total funding per pupil in cash terms is for each local education authority for 2004–05, using the same format as that for 2003–04 and prior years as set out on his Department's website. [195922]

It is not clear to which figures the hon. Member refers. The table shows local education authorities in England in 2003–04 and 2004–05, the total funding per pupil in cash terms.

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much on average per child was contributed from public funds to the education of (a) primary school children and (b) secondary school children in (i) Wansdyke, (ii) Bath and North East Somerset and (iii) South Gloucestershire in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. [196770]

The following tables give the total funding per Primary and Secondary pupil in real terms from 1997–98 to 2004–05, separately for the Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire local education authority areas. Funding information on a constituency basis is not available.

Total funding per Primary and Secondary pupil in real terms 1997 to 2005 for England, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire -- £

⁽⁸⁾ Change since 1997–98

Notes:

1. Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 June 2004.

2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.

3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level. For those LEAs in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004–05, advance grant funding is included in the year of payment (2004–05). There will be a consequential reduction in DfES grant for these LEAs in future years (either 2006–07 and 2007–08 or 2006–07 to 2008–09, depending on the terms on which the advance was given to the LEA).

4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3–4 year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

6. Status: 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

7. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to Local Government Reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in the Dagenham constituency are receiving education maintenance allowance. [196451]

By the end of October 967 young people from the Barking and Dagenham local authority area had received an EMA Notice of Entitlement. Of those, 722 had enrolled for EMA at a school or college and 672 had received an EMA payment. These figures continue to improve as those who apply late have their applications assessed and then become eligible for payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people have taken part in the Entry to Employment programme since it was introduced in 2003. [196345]

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people started on the Entry to Employment programme in 2003–04; and how many places for new starts will be available in 2004–05. [196479]