To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what qualifications the Chief Executive of the House of Commons Service has to fulfil his duties as Chief Executive. [201811]

The Chief Executive of the House of Commons Service holds that post by virtue of his appointment as Clerk of the House of Commons. This arrangement was endorsed by the external reviews of the management of the House of Commons carried out in 1990 by Sir Robin Ibbs and in 1999 by Mr. Michael Braithwaite. I refer the hon. Member in particular to paragraphs 15.38 to 15.42 and Annex G of the Braithwaite Report (HC 745, 1998–99), which set out the rationale for that arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when Arable Area Payment Scheme payments are expected to be made. [200566]

The payment window for the Arable Area Payment Scheme 2004 main payments opened on 16 November 2004 and closes on 31 January 2005. Payments commenced immediately the payment window opened and during the first two weeks 69 per cent. of claims were paid including 80 per cent. of claims from producers in those countries most affected by wet weather.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the bee health programme. [200426]

The Department's Activity Baseline Review has identified the bee health programme as an area where 20 per cent. savings (equivalent to £250,000 p.a.) could be realised from 2008. We expect to make these savings through a reduced programme of expenditure with the Central Science Laboratory's National Bee Unit, which implements the programme in England.

We have discussed these proposals with beekeeping organisations, who have registered a number of concerns. We will take these concerns into account in developing and implementing the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to support beekeepers in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [200427]

The Department assists the beekeeping sector in England through an integrated bee health programme administered by the National Bee Unit. The programme will cost £1.235 million in 2004–05. Measures include the provision of a free diagnostic and inspection service as well as training and technical advice to help beekeepers become more self-reliant in controlling pests and diseases through improved bee husbandry techniques.

This year, the Department also intends to spend some £240,000 on research and development to underpin our bee health policy in controlling endemic notifiable diseases in the UK and preventing the introduction of serious exotic pests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) prosecutions, (b) cautions and (c) enforcement notices there have been in each year since 1995 brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (i) in total and (ii) broken down by region. [200709]

Since 1995 the Drinking Water Inspectorate has initiated proceedings for 35 prosecutions and issued 20 Cautions. The Inspectorate has also issued 8 Enforcement Notices under section 20 of the Water Industry Act 1991. The number of prosecutions, cautions and notices are summarised as follows, by year and by region.

Number of prosecutions

Number of cautions

Notices of intention to serve an Enforcement Order under s20 Water Industry Act 1991

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further action she plans to reduce emissions of methane. [200690]

There has been a 42.7 per cent. reduction in methane emissions in the UK between 1990 and 2002, the most recent year for which data is available.

Methane is one of the greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Following the decision of Russian to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol it is due to come into force on 16 February 2005. The UK remains on course to achieve its Kyoto target to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. Provisional estimates suggest that in 2003 greenhouse gas emissions were about 14 per cent. below the baseline.

A review of the Climate Change Programme was launched on 15 September. The review will evaluate the success of the existing policy measures in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and will examine the scope for further reductions in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the volumes of methane likely to be released following the effects of climate change in polar regions; and what assessment she has made of the effect that the release of such methane will have on climate change. [200704]

There are currently large uncertainties in the estimates of present-day natural methane fluxes. There are also large uncertainties in the projections of changes in these fluxes under climate change, due both to the responses of methane emissions to warming and the changes in wetland area under climate change.

However, modelling studies performed by the Hadley Centre for the UK Climate Prediction programme funded by Defra indication that methane emissions from wetlands north of 45°N will approximately double by 2100 relative to the present day, from 50 to 95 Terragrams per year. It is estimated that this will contribute an additional 1 per cent. to global warming over the 21st Century.

It should be noted that this does not consider the potential release of methane from ocean hydrates, which has not yet been quantified, but is the subject of research within the Climate Prediction Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that the feasibility/design stage of the Environment Agency project concerning (a) the possible raising of ground levels at the western end of Gossmore Close in Marlow and (b) the construction of flap valve/headwall of the existing highway ditch adjacent to Firview Close in Marlow will be reached; and if she will make a statement. [200657]

I understand that the raising of the ground levels at the western end of Gossmore Close is part of the Firview Close Area Study and has gone through a pre-feasibility study only. It is currently being considered for inclusion on the Environment Agency's Capital Programme.

The detailed design for the construction of a flap valve/headwall of the existing highway ditch adjacent to Firview Close is unlikely to begin before 2006–07.

As an interim measure I understand that Wycombe district council and Buckinghamshire county council have agreed that if another flood event occurs (of a magnitude that puts the properties in Firview Close at risk of flooding), they will make arrangements for an emergency headwall to be constructed across the highway ditch with the aim of protecting the properties from river flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that the feasibility/design stage of the Environment Agency project concerning the possible erection of an earth bund at the rear of Bream Close/Trout Close in Marlow will be reached; and if she will make a statement. [200658]

holding answer 30 November 2004

I understand that the Environment Agency's pre-feasibility study for this area is now complete and has concluded that there is a viable project to reduce the risk of river flooding to the residential properties on the Pound Lane estate.

The preferred option is for construction of a substantial earth bund, commencing at the rear of Bream Close and extending in a north easterly direction to the rear of Trout Close. Feasibility and design for this proposal is now under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she has taken in relation to the conclusions of the Environment Agency feasibility study on the prevention of flooding in Medmenham; and if she will make a statement. [200659]

holding answer 30 November 2004

Environment Agency (EA) flood risk improvement projects must meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which they start in order to be eligible for funding from Defra's ring-fenced improvement allocation which is shared between all operating authorities.

I have not seen a copy of this feasibility study. However, I understand that the EA's preferred option is for a flood bund around the properties in Ferry Lane on both the east and west side of the road including the Abbey. I understand, however, the priority score for the proposal is relatively low and construction is therefore unlikely to progress in the near future. In the meantime the EA is working closely with riparian owners to ensure local watercourses are property maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effect of the coming into force of the European Constitution on the operation of her Department, with reference to (a) changes in legislative competence, (b) the extension of qualified majority voting, (c) the increased legislative role of the European Parliament, (d) the cost of implementation of regulations, (e) the requirements of adherence to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and (f) the quantity of legislation originating in the EU institutions. [200186]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 November 2004, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.Official Report, column 10W

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of flood prevention schemes undertaken since 1997 was, broken down by county. [199783]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 17 November 2004, . I plan to place this information in the Library of the House shortly.Official Report, column 1482W

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Environment Agency is taking to hold back water in the upper reaches of the Thames. [201869]

I understand the upstream catchment currently supports significant storage of water within the confines of the natural floodplain.

The Environment Agency has a statutory duty to maintain water levels of the Thames within a range of +6" to -3" of Standard Head Water Level, marked at the head of each lock. To achieve this, the weir associated with each lock is operated to regulate the amount of flow through it, which will either raise or lower the water level of the reach above the weir. In this way the rate of flow of the river may rise or fall although the level of the river may remain much the same.

After rain, as river flows increase, weir gates are opened to prevent, or to minimise as far as possible, rises in water level. Water is not deliberately held back. When very high flows are experienced, they may exceed the capacity of the river channel at which point it overtops its banks even though the weir may be fully open.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency is taking to dredge the upper reaches of the Thames. [201870]

I understand proposed dredging works are scheduled to take place at Marlow Lock tail cut in the winter of 2005. This programme of dredging was developed in response to the findings of the Summer/Autumn 2004 River Thames Reach bathymetric surveys.

In line with the Mechanism of Flooding Report recommendations, the agency is currently reviewing its position on the options and case for additional dredging. This work includes: searching for new disposal sites for the dredging (including reprocessing), reviewing environmental implications and recalculating the potential benefits and costs to assess the economic justification of further dredging. This report will be concluded in spring 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria were used in determining which sites would be eligible to deal with hazardous waste; and if she will make a statement [200088]

holding answer 29 November 2004

With the ending of the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in landfills, operators had to decide on the classification for each of their landfill sites post 16 July 2004. For those sites that choose to be designated as hazardous waste landfills, operators had to apply to the Environment Agency for a permit that contained the operating conditions for the site. The Agency had to then decide whether a permit should be issued and, if so, what operating conditions should be applied.

The requirements for a hazardous waste landfill are set out in the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, as amended by the Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and related Pollution Prevention and Control Legislation. Those sites designated as hazardous but have yet to complete the permitting process, can continue to accept hazardous waste under the terms of its waste management licence until such time as a decision on the permit application is made. The Environment Agency is unable to issue a permit unless the necessary planning permissions are in place.

Government Ministers have no role in this process unless an appeal against a decision by the planning authority or the Environment Agency is made. Ministers adjudicate on those appeals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in the Manchester, Withington constituency have benefited from the home energy efficiency and warm front schemes. [201925]

Information is not available on a constituency basis on the number of homes that benefited from the original Home Energy Efficiency Scheme between 1991 and 1997.

It is estimated that between June 1997 and May 2000 approximately 2,200 households in Manchester, Withington received assistance from the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Since the launch of the Warm Front scheme in June 2000 and the end of October 2004 approximately 2,000 households in Manchester, Withington received assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she approved the article by the Parliamentary Private Secretary, the hon. Member for the Wrekin (Peter Bradley), which appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on 21 November. [202100]

Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not obliged to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for anything they write in a personal capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(1) what action has been taken to ensure that other Government Departments deliver sustainability within the private finance initiative projects; [200713]

(2) what role her Department (a) has and (b) plans to take to make the PFI process more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability;. [200712]

(3) what assessment her Department has made of the sustainability and environmental impacts of private finance initiative projects and the effectiveness of the PFI process to deliver environmentally sustainable projects; [200711]

(4) what role her Department has played in ensuring that private finance initiative projects create the minimum of environmental damage. [200710]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 149W.

Since then the sections of the "Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate" on waste, estates management and construction, and on procurement have been published; these sections commit all Government Departments to include clauses relating to sustainable development issues in relevant contracts, including PFIs and PPs.

The Government is committed to ensuring that sustainable development considerations are taken into account in public procurement (including PFIs/PPPs).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [200868]

DFID has in place, an Equal Opportunities Policy that clearly outlines our commitment not to discriminate on the grounds of age.

We have taken numerous steps to address potential age discrimination including flexibility for staff below the Senior Civil Service (SCS) grade to work on beyond normal retirement age, statistical monitoring of all of our selection processes, and training for all staff on diversity and equal opportunities.

DFID is a member of the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) and has adopted some of the good practice techniques recommended by the EFA. Using the EFA policy assessment toolkit, we have initiated a review of our current policies and practices in relation to discrimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has carried out into the average life expectancy of someone who has been diagnosed with AIDS in (a) Sub-Saharan Africa, (b) other developing countries and (c) Western Europe; and if he will make a statement. [199554]

DFID, like many in the international system, uses data from a variety of sources, including UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations who are tasked with monitoring and reporting on the AIDS epidemic.

The latest UN Human Development Report estimates that life expectancy in many sub-Saharan African countries has fallen to under 33 years, primarily due to the AIDS epidemic. WHO report that overall life expectancy has dropped precipitously over the last 10 years—for females from 51.1 to 46.3 and males 47.3 to 44.8 years. WHO report that life expectancy in Africa has been cut by five to 10 years due to the AIDS epidemic, this is reduced even further by 15 to 20 years in Southern Africa. The Global Health Council report that in Thailand, Cambodia and Burma two to five years of life expectancy has been lost due to AIDS. UNAIDS report that life expectancy at birth in 2010 is projected to be 10 years less in Haiti and in Trinidad and Tobago nine years less than it would have been without AIDS.

Once someone is infected with the HIV virus their possible progression to AIDS or death will be affected by many factors. With access to treatment, not only ART but also basic health care people can live longer, potentially for more than 20 years. However for people with HIV with no access to clean water, or who are malnourished or who have little or no access to basic health services for treatment of opportunistic infections such as TB, life expectancy can drop substantially.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government have offered to the Government of Angola in order to facilitate national elections by 2006. [201970]

DFID's Country Engagement Plan (CEP) for Angola, identifies the priorities for UK development assistance from 2003 to 2006. This includes support to the government and other stakeholders to prepare for the next general election which is expected to take place in September 2006.

Following discussions with the Angolan Government and civil society, DFID is looking at the possibility of funding a programme consisting of voter and civic education, election-related conflict management and election monitoring. Through the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, DFID has also been co-financing Angolan parliamentarians and civil society representatives to participate as observers in the elections of other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. This list includes: Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and currently Mozambique.

In addition, the European Union made a declaration in August, in which it stated that it stands ready to contribute to the establishment of a proper and conducive environment for free and fair elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact of climate change on the developing world. [201289]

DFID uses the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and other multilateral assessments of climate change and potential impacts. However, it is clear that currently available information is inadequate. DFID has jointly commissioned, with DEFRA, a study on African climate research needs which is due to report this December. Climate change is a major theme of DFID's Research Strategy and we have commissioned a needs assessment to inform a call for new research proposals next spring.

DFID is also taking steps to help developing countries manage the risks of climate change and develop effective adaptation strategies. We have produced guidance for our country programmes and climate is included in our environmental screening procedures for all bilateral programmes.

DFID is working to integrate climate change risk management into the development and environmental safeguard policies of the main multilateral development institutions, starting with joint work on risk management with the World Bank in 2005.

Helping developing countries to meet their growth and energy needs through the adoption of more energy efficient technologies will also be crucial to tackling climate change. DFID is exploring ways to increase support for low carbon development with international development banks, including the World Bank.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost has been of criminal damage to his Department's buildings in each of the last two years. [200858]

The only costs incurred as a result of criminal damage to the Department's buildings in the UK in the last two years is £345, in 2003–04.

Information on costs incurred by overseas offices is not readily available and cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last two years. [200861]

The costs of building refurbishment, carried out by DFID in the UK in the last two years are in relation to the work on our office in East Kilbride. The costs are as follows:

Costs associated with refurbishment of any overseas offices are not centrally available and cannot be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement. [200874]

DFID has no Private Finance Initiative arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total external spend by his Department was on public private partnership consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement. [200875]

DFID has no public private partnership arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many departmental mobile telephones were used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in his Department in each year since 1997; at what cost; how many such telephones were lost or stolen in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were in each case. [202173]

Mobile phones were not managed under a central contract prior to 2003–04, and therefore information for earlier years (and information on mobile phones in overseas offices) is not readily available and could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost. Similarly, the costs incurred through the replacement of the individual phones stolen are not readily available and so also could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Over the last two years, the number of mobile phones in use in the UK, and their costs (including equipment, call charges and access charges) as follows:

These figures include the two mobile phones for Ministers and two for the special advisers.

The total number of mobile phones lost or stolen since 2001 is 28, broken down as follows:

No information is available on phones lost prior to this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [200860]

There are no empty properties owned by DFID.

There are no other agencies or public bodies for which DFID is responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the percentage of British supermarket stock which is fairly traded; and what research his Department has carried out into fair trade products in the British market. [199547]

Over the past 10 years, the growth in sales of Fairtrade labelled goods in the UK has been rapid. There are now over 300 Fairtrade products which include coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, snacks and biscuits, sugar, honey, fruit juice and fresh fruit.

Sales of Fairtrade labelled products are expected to exceed £100 million for 2004 (out of an estimated £120 billion supermarket sales) and are increasing by 50 per cent. year on year. Fairtrade labelled products now account for 18 per cent. of the UK roast and ground coffee market, and over 3 per cent. of overall coffee sales. Fairtrade accounts for around 4 per cent. of the total UK banana market.

DFID has commissioned a number of research studies on Fair Trade, including a study on Understanding and Expanding Fair Trade, which focused on developing alternative coffee and cocoa markets for small sale farmers. In 2000, an overview and impact assessment study was commissioned to inform DFID's support to Fair Trade.

DFID supports the objectives of the Fairtrade Foundation and provides £300,000 to fund a number of activities, including annual Fairtrade Fortnight and public awareness raising campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development

(1) what action the UK is taking to ensure emergency water and electricity supplies are provided to the citizens of Falluja; [199840]

(2) what assistance is being provided by the United Kingdom to restore essential utilities infrastructure to Falluja; [199841]

(3) what resources the UK plans to provide to assist in the re-building of Falluja; [199842]

(4) what emergency (a) medical supplies, (b) personnel and (c) equipment will be provided by the United Kingdom to assist those injured by coalition force attacks upon Falluja. [199843]

The Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) is leading on humanitarian and reconstruction work in Falluja and has established a central team to co-ordinate its assistance to the people of Falluja. This assistance includes: supplying food, water and medical supplies, restoring essential services, and refurbishing medical facilities. The UK is in close contact with the IIG, and DFID is providing advice to its Falluja co-ordination team.

The IIG and the Multi-National Force operating in Fallujah have reported that there is no humanitarian crisis so far and humanitarian visits to Falluja by British military officials confirm this assessment. Multi-National Forces have reported that their stockpiles of humanitarian supplies have provided for the immediate needs of Falluja's civilians. Iraqi Government and Iraqi Red Crescent trucks containing humanitarian supplies are now entering the city and the distribution of food, water, and medical supplies has begun. Injured civilians are being treated in mobile hospitals in Falluja, or have been taken for treatment at hospitals in nearby towns.

The Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) has also set aside significant funds from the Iraqi government budget for reconstruction work. The IIG is being supported by the Multi-National Force, which also has considerable resources for immediate post-conflict reconstruction work in Falluja, including clearing rubble and the restoration of water, sewerage and electricity services. United States agencies have planned around 100 reconstruction projects in the Falluja area totalling $84.1 million. These are due to begin soon and should complete by the end of January.

DFID is maintaining close contact with the IIG, with representatives of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and with humanitarian organisations on the ground, to address the needs of Falluja's population. DFID is ready to respond positively to requests for humanitarian help or further advice in Falluja or elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had on including criteria on international labour standards in Government procurement procedures as a way of improving working conditions in developing countries. [201572]

DFID is actively involved in discussions on the inclusion of social issues in public procurement processes. At the request of the inter-departmental Sustainable Procurement Group, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is preparing a guidance note on social issues in purchasing. DFID has provided detailed comments on the OGC's initial draft including comments on the inclusion of labour standards issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make aid available for charities to assist children orphaned by the war in Iraq who are in foster homes. [200221]

UNICEF, along with five other NGOs, undertook a study of the needs of Iraqi children made vulnerable by war and its aftermath during the summer of 2003. This study informed decisions on UNICEF project priorities (see below). UNICEF is also continuing its pre-war efforts of assisting children in particular vulnerable situations, such as children living and working on the street, orphaned or disabled children, and children in conflict with the law.

DFID support to the children of Iraq is currently channelled through two main mechanisms. The first is a Civil Service Fund (CSF—£5 million over two years), which is focused on strengthening the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations (CSO) to better address the needs of the poor and vulnerable groups, especially women and young people. The second is the multi-donor trust fund managed by the United Nations, part of which supports the activities carried out by UNICEF to help vulnerable groups. DFID has made an initial contribution of £30 million to the trust fund.

Further information on DFID's Iraq programme can be found at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/asia/iraq.asp

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid he has made available to offer psychological care to people affected by the war in Iraq. [200223]

DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq, including psychosocial support, is being channelled through the multi-donor trust fund managed by the United Nations. UN work in this area will focus on the provision of technical assistance for the development of mental health and psychosocial support services at the primary level. DFID has made an initial contribution of £30 million to the UN managed trust fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money has been allocated by his Department for the provision of humanitarian aid to Iraq in each of the last two years. [200944]

Since the beginning of 2003, DFID has committed £333 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq. During 2003, over £132 million was allocated for humanitarian assistance, including contributions to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations. So far, in 2004, DFID has allocated £201 million towards reconstruction and the restoration of essential services.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is supporting in Iraq. [201288]

Since March 2003, DFID has committed £333 million for humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Iraq, and disbursed approximately £251 million. This sum includes over £100 million disbursed through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations in response to humanitarian appeals in 2003.

Current projects in Iraq supported by DFID are listed as follows.

Reconstruction in southern Iraq:

£20 million to an Emergency Infrastructure Programme, which is improving the supply of water, power and fuel to over five million people in the south.

£20.5 million capacity building programme in the four southern Governorates, aimed at supporting strategic planning and financial management in both the public and private sectors.

£16.5 million programme to generate employment and address weaknesses in essential services in the four southern Governorates.

Technical assistance to help co-ordinate reconstruction in the south, and ensure completion of former Coalition Provisional Authority projects. (£5.5 million).

Re-establishing radio and television broadcasting capacity in the south, through training programmes and supply of equipment. (£7 million).

Support to government, justice, media and civil society:

Technical support and training (£4 million) within Iraq's system of public administration; focused on the centre of government (Prime Minister's Office, Council of Ministers' Secretariat, and Presidency) and in key ministries for reconstruction.

Support to the justice sector (£2 million): training programmes in international human rights law to Iraqi judges, lawyers and prosecutors.

£4.3 million macro-economic reform project to support the Iraqi Government in developing and implementing pro-poor economic reform programmes.

£5 million Political Participation Fund; supporting the development of legitimate and inclusive political institutions in Iraq, and to enable potentially marginalized groups to participate in the political process.

£5 million Civil Society Fund: strengthening the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations to better address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

£1 million media project: training journalists, editors and media managers on humanitarian and independent reporting.

Multilateral contributions:

£70 million contribution to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), managed by the UN and the World Bank. Seventeen donors have committed around $1 billion to IRFFI. The UN and World Bank are implementing projects in a wide range of sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, electricity supply, support to refugees and internally displaced people, governance, and the electoral process.

Over £3 million to the IMF, to project support to the Interim Iraqi Government in economic governance and financial management.

Contribution of £8.5 million to the International Finance Corporation for a Small Business Fund Facility, designed to improve access to finance for small Iraqi businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what expenditure has been allocated to treat victims of burns caused by the war in Iraq. [200108]

DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq is being channelled through the multi-door trust fund managed by the United Nations. DFID has contributed £30 million to the fund so far focusing on a range of development sectors including health. DFID has no plans to provide bilaterial support for the treatment of burns.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with multinational companies on (a) their responsibilities for the environment and (b) employment of local people in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [200722]

I talk to multinational corporations about a range of issues, including environment and employment.

DFID works in partnership with governments, the private sector, international financial institutions, non-government organisations and trade unions to encourage good corporate and public sector governance. DFID aims to help improve the business and investment climate so as to maximise the positive impact in developing countries.

If for example, DFID works closely with, among other partners, oil, gas and mining multinationals on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. This is increasing the transparency of revenues paid to governments by extractive industry companies and the receipts recorded by host governments. Transparency is not, however, an end in itself but will increase the accountability of those governments to use these revenues for sustainable development and poverty reduction goals.

DFID promotes adherence to the "Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2000). The guidelines encourage multinationals to raise their environmental and social performance and call on them to:

(1) Commit to the continual improvement of environmental management performance, developing environmental management systems and ensuring better contingency planning to manage negative impacts.

(2) Ensure "to the greatest extent practicable" employment of local personnel and the provision of training to improve local skills and capacity in developing countries in which they operate.

The Guidelines do not replace local laws but promote standards of behaviour supplemental to local laws.

In addition, DFID continues to support specific labour and employment programmes within developing countries.

Through a Strategic Grant Agreement with the Trades Union Congress DFID is helping UK trade unions to support workers in developing countries. This may include ensuring preference being given to local people when multinationals operate in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to implement the Artists' Resale Right Directive in the UK. [201575]

The Government plans to introduce Artists' Release Right on 1 January 2006, which is the deadline in the Directive harmonising the right. The Government intends to issue a formal consultation document on the implementation of the Directive shortly, accompanied by a draft statutory instrument. The consultation documents will be mounted on the Patent Office's website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has commissioned on the cost to the general public of the introduction of transaction charges at ATM machines. [200741]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government welcomes the recent increase in the number of ATMs as it has increased choice for consumers. Also, nearly all ATMs run by high street banks and building societies are now free. Only a few years ago this was not the case. The Government believes charging policy is a commercial matter for ATM operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the major clearing banks in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) the rest of the UK on the effects on users of the sale of ATM machines to companies which charge transaction fees for their use. [202545]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government have not held discussions with banks on the sale of ATMs to independent operators. The Government believe this is a commercial matter for individual banks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many loans have been guaranteed through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme since 1995, broken down by (a) region and (b) sector; and what the value of grants was in each case in each year. [201112]

The Small Firms Loan Guarantee is not a grant scheme, but acts as guarantor.

I have placed in the Libraries of the House copies of tables that show the number of Small Firms Loan Guarantees issued since 1995 by region and sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial provision her Department has made for funding (a) grants for research and development and (b) collaborative research and development business support products. [201183]

I refer to the answer given on 16 November 2004, Official Report, columns 1299–1300W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have been assisted by (a) the UK High Technology Fund and (b) Regional Venture Capital Funds in each (i) region and (ii) constituency since 2000. [200533]

As at 31 October 2004 the Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs) had assisted 140 businesses. This number can be broken down regionally as follows.

A breakdown of constituencies that have one or more assisted businesses, for the most recent period available up until 31 December 2003, follows:

Analysis by constituency of businesses assisted by RVCFs in the period up to 31 December 2003:

East Midlands

Blaby

Bosworth

Daventry

Gedling

Lincoln

Loughborough

3x North West Leicestershire

Northampton North

Nottingham East

Nottingham South

South Derbyshire

South East Cambridgeshire

South West

Bath

North Cornwall

Somerton and Frome

South West Devon

North West

Altrincham and Sale West

Bolton West

Ellesmere Port and Neston

4x Manchester Central

St. Helens South

West Lancashire

London

Battersea

Bethnal Green and Bow

2x Enfield North

Feltham and Heston

Islington South and Finsbury

Kensington and Chelsea

2x Regents Park and Kensington North

Ruislip Northwood

West Midlands

Birmingham Ladywood

3x Coventry South

Newcastle under Lyme

2x Warwick and Leamington

West Worcestershire

Worcester

South East

Ashford

Basingstoke

2x Beaconsfield

Brighton Pavilion

Christchurch

Costwold

Faversham and Mid Kent

Guildford

Harrow East

Mid Sussex

Milton Keynes North East

Milton Keynes South West

Oxford East

South West Surrey

Southampton Itchen

Tonbridge and Malling

2x Tunbridge Wells

Wealden

Winchester

North East

Blyth Valley

Houghton and Washington

East Jarrow

2x Newcastle upon Tyne Central

Stockton North

6x Tyne Bridge

Tynemouth

Yorkshire and Humber

Calder Valley

2x City of York

Harrogate and Knaresborough

Hull East

Note:

1x assisted business per constituency listed unless otherwise stated.

As at 30 June 2004 the UK High Technology Fund had invested in nine private equity partnerships, which in turn have assisted a total of 173 businesses. The information necessary to determine both a regional and constituency breakdown of assisted businesses is not made available to us by the UK High Technology Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public funding has been spent on Business Link in each (a) region and (b) constituency in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [200544]

The total amount of public funding broken down by region is shown in the following table. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by constituency.

Business link operators breakdown of all public funding by region

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will launch an investigation into Endeavour Resources's trading links with Darfur, Sudan. [200649]

holding answer 30 November 2004

Sudan is subject to a full EU arms embargo. Under the Trade in Controlled Goods (Embargoed Destinations) Order 2004, implemented under the Export Control Act 2002 on 3 March 2004, it is a criminal offence for anyone in the UK or any UK person anywhere in the world, to seek to trade, without a valid licence, in military equipment to destinations under a full arms embargo imposed by the EU, OSCE or UK (additional extraterritorial controls on trade to destinations subject to UN embargo are in place under the UN Act 1946). The UK Government would only issue a licence for the supply of or trade in military equipment to Sudan in line with the exemptions to the embargo, for example for humanitarian end-use.

Investigations into breaches of UK export control legislation are the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise. Should anyone hold evidence of, or information to, any breach of UK export control legislation, this should be referred to HMCE. For legal reasons, we are unable to comment further on the nature and extent of enquiries relating to the case of Endeavour Resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the quantities of cadmium released to the environment from (a) phosphate fertilizer use, (b) iron and steel manufacture, (c) fossil fuel combustion and (d) nickel-cadmium batteries. [199683]

I have been asked to reply.

(a) Estimated annual inputs of cadmium to the environment from phosphate fertilizer use have fallen from 7.1 tonnes in 1990, to 4.8 tonnes in 2003. It is likely that levels of contamination were higher 10 years earlier (i.e. 1980), but comparable data are not available for that period.

(b) and (c) Information on atmospheric emissions of a range of substances is provided by the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (UKNAEI). Annual emissions of cadmium from iron and steel manufacture fell from less than five tonnes in 1970 to less than one tonne in 2002. Cadmium emissions from fuel combustion were 15.5 tonnes in 1970, falling to 3.5 tonnes in 2002.

(d) The recent targeted risk assessment commissioned by the Belgian Government under the existing substances regulation concluded that 75 per cent. of all refined cadmium (cadmium is a by product of zinc refining) goes into nickel cadmium batteries (NiCd). However, this accounts for only 1 per cent. of all cadmium released into the environment. NiCd batteries account for 0.0055 per cent. of municipal solid waste in the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the operation of the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) complaint line. [200989]

The Department has received approximately 80 complaints about Premium Rate Services (PRS) in the past year which have mentioned the operation of the ICSTIS helpline. No complaints about ICSTIS were received in the previous two years. Ofcom's current review of PRS regulation will include an assessment of whether ICSTIS has the right tools and resources to regulate the PRS industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will carry out an inquiry into the operation of the regulation of the premium rate telephone industry. [200990]

holding answer 2 December 2004

The Department has asked the communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), to review the role and powers of ICSTIS in premium rate regulation. Ofcom is due to report back shortly

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to her Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if she will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it. [200613]

During the period a April 2003 to 31 March 2004 the core Department paid supplier invoices, on average, within 27 days (unaudited figure). During this period, the core Department paid 89.6 per cent. of undisputed invoices within 30 days or the agreed credit terms. Data on invoices remaining unpaid after 90 days is available only at disproportionate cost.

The Government is committed to improving the payment culture in the UK in order to create a fair and stable environment for business transactions. Government departments and their agencies should aim to pay all invoices not in dispute within 39 days or within the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified. The Department supports this policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times the appraisal system for each pay bargaining unit in her Department has been changed in the last five years; and how many staff are fully or partly employed in connection with pay negotiations in each pay bargaining unit, broken down by grade. [200346]

The table shows the staff time by grade spent in pay negotiations for DTI HQ, and aggregated totals for DTI agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).

The DTI Agencies are: Companies House, Employment Tribunal Service, Patent Office and Insolvency Service.

The NDPBs include: ACAS, the Equal Opportunities Commission, four regional development agencies and five research councils.

In the last five years, the appraisal arrangements DTI HQ have been changed once. In DTI Agencies and NDPBSs, listed above, the appraisal arrangements have been changed once on average, with two organisations changing them no more than three times and another two not changing them in that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the change in her Department's contribution to the regional development agencies in 2005–06. [200558]

The Department's contribution to the RDAs in 2005–06 was reviewed as part of Spending Review 2004. The Department's contribution to the RDA budget will increase by £229 million in 2005–06, from £234 million to £463 million. Of that, £169 million has been added to the RDA budget to allow the planned transfer of responsibilities for delivery of the Business Link services in their regions and Grant for Research and Development to the RDAs from April 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total Government funding for each of the regional development agencies is for 2004, broken down by contributing Government departments. [201953]

The total Government funding for each of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) for 2004 is £1.847 million.

Five Departments contribute to a single budget which is allocated to RDAs using a funding formula. The funding formula is agreed between DTI and other contributing Departments The breakdown by each contributing Department to the single budget is:

⁽¹⁾ Total does not sum due to rounding

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the criteria are for measuring (a) jobs created and (b) jobs safeguarded in assessing regional development agencies' performance. [201960]

The total number of employment opportunities directly attributable to Regional Development Agency (RDA) activity(taking new and safeguarded jobs together(is one of the core output targets that England's RDAs are required to deliver in 2004–05.

As outlined in a Technical Note, the unit of account is a permanent full-time equivalent paid job (FTE). A job is created and is counted, when a post is filled. To be treated as permanent, the job should have a life expectancy of at least one year at the time of the forecast and at the time it is counted. Part-time jobs can be converted to FTE jobs on a pro rata basis with a job over 30 hours treated as full-time or, if the information is not available, two part-time jobs can equal a full-time job.

A job can only be forecast to be safeguarded if it exists at the time of the decision to commit to the project and is forecast by the RDA to be lost to the region within (normally) one year if the project does not go ahead. A job can be counted as safeguarded if it was forecast as at risk at the appraisal stage, is still in existence at the time of counting, and is no longer at risk of being lost within (normally) a year.

To arrive at the reported total, adjustments for multiple funding and additionality are made the RDAs. In addition, Foreign Direct Investment and Regional Selective Assistance/Selective Finance for Investment in England jobs are included in the reported figure only after the jobs have been delivered and can be counted in the relevant period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution will have to be made by the private sector and charitable funding in order to achieve the public and private spending on research and development targets set out in the Spending Review 2004; and what contribution has been secured from (a) the private sector and (b) charitable funding. [200540]

The Science and Innovation Investment Framework: 2004–2014 outlines the Government's ambition to increase the overall levels of R and D in the economy to 2.5 per cent. of GDP by 2014. This is a challenging target, and public and private expenditure on R and D will have to rise faster than the trend rate of GDP growth over the period if it is to be achieved. The Government has made extra resources available in SR 2004 in line with this objective, including an extra £1 billion for the UK science base by 2007–08, equivalent to a real-term increase of 5.8 per cent. This public investment will have to be matched by a similar commitment from business.

The Government is committed to working in partnership with business to raise the UK's investment levels in R and D, and has put in place a number of measures to encourage greater private sector investment in R and D, including the R and D tax credits and funding for collaborative research and knowledge transfer via the DTI's Technology Strategy.

Charity funding for R and D has grown steadily in recent years, and the Government is working in partnership with charities to improve the financial sustainability of university research. In SR 2004, the Government announced additional funding of up to £90 million by 2007–08 to help close the gap between the costs of charity-sponsored research and the funds currently available from universities and charities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken (a) to prevent the best young scientists from leaving (i) research and (ii) the UK and (b) to attract young scientific talent from abroad. [199952]

holding answer 29 November 2004

The evidence base for a brain gain/drain is uncertain, with some recent studies showing the UK as a net beneficiary of science, engineering and technology (SET) skills. Therefore, the Office of Science and Technology is taking forward a study to provide a clear and usable definition of the brain drain to ascertain whether the UK SET base is currently experiencing a net brain drain of SET personnel qualified to at least PhD level and to provide an analysis as to what the future balance of inward versus outward migration of SET personnel might be.

A number of schemes have been implemented in the UK which aim to attract scientific talent from abroad. For example, the Research Councils operate the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards scheme that provides PhD scholarship for students from India, China, Hong Kong and the developing world.

The Roberts Review (SET for Success, 2002) included recommendations that focused on the supply of scientists and improving the attractiveness of research careers. In its strategy for science, "Investing in Innovation", the Government made a commitment to implement measures based on these recommendations. These included increasing Research Council postdoctoral researchers' salaries by around £4,000 by 2005, increasing the average Research Council PhD stipend to £13,000 by 2005, providing young researchers with two weeks a year of transferable skills training, and establishing a new academic fellowship scheme that will provide more stable and attractive routes into academia. The 2004 Spending Review settlement will provide additional funding to extend the average duration of Research Council PhD awards to three-and-a-half years, and further increase the level of Research Council PhD stipends by at least inflation.

The work of the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET (science, engineering and technology) includes sharing good employment practices, and supporting women returners. A contribution from the Department for Education and Skills will enable the Resource Centre to develop a scheme dedicated to encouraging more female SET undergraduates to take up SET professions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is given to (a) schools, (b) other educational facilities and (c) local authority-run centres regarding the administration of adrenaline to children who suffer from severe allergies. [199756]

The DfES and Department of Health have jointly produced guidance on "Supporting pupils with medical needs" in schools. This provides information on management and control of anaphylaxis and advises that training in the administration of adrenaline is given by a health professional. Specific guidance on the administration of adrenaline has not been issued to other educational facilities and local authority-run centres. However, all providers have health and safety responsibilities towards pupils and where staff administer adrenaline they must ensure that the staff are properly trained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new full day care places have been created in the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the past three years. [199674]

918 new full day care places have been created in Wandsworth since 2001. Taking account of turnover, 779 net new places have been created. This has resulted in an increase in the stock of places from 2,741 in March 2001 to 3,520 in March 2004. There are a variety of reasons why provision may close, ranging from childminders taking up other careers once their own children reach school age or changes in family circumstances resulting in career changes, to work-friendly full day care replacing other forms of provision.

Table 1 details the number of gross and net full day care places created in Wandsworth for each year since 2001. Table 2 shows the number of nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds.

Table 1

Table 2

The number of nursery education places taken up in Wandsworth over the past three years has declined as the population of 3 and 4-year-olds has reduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to monitor local authority spending on the promotion of nursery education in the London borough of Wandsworth. [199675]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) if he will list each programme and initiative launched by his Department to help young people since 1997; and which of those programmes and initiatives remain in operation; [200260]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of Government policies relating to young people; [200262]

(3) if he will make a statement on his Department's efforts since 1997 in helping young people. [200264]

holding answer 29 November 2004

The Department for Education and Skills has launched the following programmes since 1997 to help young people through offers of advice, support and positive activities, all of which remain in operation: Connexions; Get REAL; Millennium Volunteers; Positive Activities for Young People; the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy; and Transforming Youth Work.

An important aspect of the Government's strategy is to involve local people in running activities for young people in their area. The Local Network Fund is managed locally by voluntary organisations and provides funding and capacity building support to community groups working with vulnerable young people. The Neighbourhood Support Fund supports local voluntary and community sector projects in delivering informal learning and self development for hard to reach young people.

The Government made an assessment of services for children, young people and families in the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" published in September 2003. It concluded that, while much progress has been made, there was scope for services to work together more effectively to help every child and young person achieve better outcomes. This view was supported in consultation.

The Government have now legislated through the Children Act 2004 to make changes that will lead to local services working together through children's trust arrangements to improve outcomes for all children and young people. These reforms will span the front line staff providing integrated services, through the processes that support them, to the plans that set their direction and the governance arrangements that sustain them. The Act is the legislative spine for a wider programme of change: we will shortly publish "Every Child Matters: Change for Children" setting out the national framework for local change programmes that will turn the Act into reality.

The Government remain fully committed to helping all children and young people achieve the best possible outcomes and especially to be healthy, to stay safe, to enjoy and achieve, to make a positive contribution to society, and to achieve economic well-being. That is why we have enshrined these outcomes in the Children Act 2004. A more detailed assessment of programmes and initiatives for young people is being undertaken in the course of developing the Youth Green Paper, which is due to be published in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department's .gov.uk websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the Government in 2001; and if he will make a statement. [199627]

The DfES websites do comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

All sites comply with level 1 of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines while some sites also comply with levels 2 and 3 of the guidelines.

Specific examples of sites that comply up to level 2 of the guidelines include:

http://www.need2know.co.uk

The young person's portal

http://www.parentcentre.gov.uk

The Parent Centre is for all parents and carers who want to help their child or children to learn.

http://www.connexions-direct.com

Are you 13–19? If so, Connexions Direct can offer you all the information and advice you need to make the decisions and choices in your life. Connexions Direct is part of Connexions. It offers you information on a wide range of topics as well as confidential advice and practical help.

The www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4U website is currently being developed to meet levels 2 and 3. It will go live in March 2005. Jobs4U is a searchable database which allows young people to find information on possible career paths and the qualifications and skills required to achieve these.

The DfES is currently reviewing our major sites with a view to bringing them all up to level 2 and 3 of the w3c standards.

The DfES is also responsible for delivering three sections on Directgov (www.direct.gov.uk) that meet the WAI "A" standard for accessibility and are Working towards "AA" standard for 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have been made in the provision of services for children aged under five years in the Lewisham, Deptford constituency since 1997. [201103]

Since 1997 we have created five Sure Start local programmes in Lewisham providing services for 3,676 children. Of these, three are based within Deptford: Honor Oak; Grinling Gibbons and Evelyn—providing services for 2,253 children. We have established 17 neighbourhood nurseries in Lewisham, delivering 586 nursery places. Of these, five are in Deptford, delivering 171 nursery places. There are six children's centres planned for Lewisham and each of Deptford's Sure Start local programmes will develop into a children's centre.

From April 1999—March 2004 Lewisham created 3,732 childcare places. This shows an increase in the stock of childcare places, taking into account turnover of 2,929 places.

In 1997 4,300 free nursery education places were taken up by three and four year old children. In 2004 5,700 children aged three and four years had taken up free nursery education places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to ensure consistency between advice given to schools by (a) the Specialist Schools Trust, (b) the National College for School Leadership, (c) the Teacher Training Agency and other advice from his Department. [201137]

In April 2003 the Government established an Implementation Review Unit. The unit is an independent panel of headteachers and senior school managers whose remit is to cut unnecessary burdens on schools. Its responsibilities include advising the Department and national education agencies about the consistency and timeliness of advice and guidance to schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to eliminate the funding gap between schools and further education colleges in Cambridge. [201271]

The Government have already taken action to narrow the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent., while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. We expect to see this trend continue in the 2005/06 academic year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of future (a) demand for and (b) supply of educational psychologists in local education authorities; and if he will make a statement. [199775]

Decisions on the recruitment, retention and deployment of educational psychologists (EPs) are matters for local authorities as employers to determine in light of local circumstances and available resources.

We are considering the future role and training needs of EPs within the context of wider discussions on children's workforce issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he will give to Exeter university chemistry students regarding the completion of their degrees in the event of the closure of their Department part-way through their degree course; and what assistance his Department will provide to these students. [199946]

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous organisations responsible for their own academic direction and strategic use of funds. It is for Exeter university to decide on how to support students affected by the closure. However, I understand that the university is working closely with the students to ensure that all their individual needs are met. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will monitor the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure per pupil was in the Bassetlaw constituency over each of the last 10 years for (a) nursery education, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) further education. [201093]

The information requested for nursery education, primary schools and secondary schools is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an LEA. Bassetlaw forms part of Nottinghamshire LEA. The information requested can be found in the following table:

£

⁽²⁾ 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 change in sources is shown by the dotted line.

⁽³⁾ Financial data is collected at local authority level and not constituency level and as such figures provided are for Nottinghamshire LEA.

⁽⁴⁾ Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place in Nottinghamshire during 1998 where pre-LGR Nottinghamshire was split into Nottinghamshire LEA and City of Nottingham LEA from 1998–99 onwards.

⁽⁵⁾ 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.

⁽⁶⁾ 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 from school based expenditure, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.

⁽⁷⁾ To calculate school based expenditure per pupil, the 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.

⁽⁸⁾ The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).

⁽⁹⁾ To calculate combined LEA and school based expenditure per pupil, the pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the LEA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LEA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES Annual Schools Census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under 5 pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included for 1999–2000 onwards. For 1995–96 onwards other LEA maintained pupils are included in the pupil count. This includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the Authority for whom the Authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the Authority drawn from the Form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LEA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained mainstream school drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census.

⁽¹⁰⁾ Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999–2000.

^{(11) 0} School based expenditure in nursery schools was not recorded in 2002–03.

^{(12) (13)} 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.

^{(14) (2)} The 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.

^{(15) (3)} Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

^{(16) (4)} n/a = not available

(d) The Department does not collect information on the level of funding per pupil in further education at the local or regional level. However, the following table shows funding per full-time equivalent student in further education in England from 1994–95 to 2003–04:

⁽¹⁷⁾ Provisional Data

⁽¹⁸⁾ Planned Expenditure

Notes:

1. These are cash figures that show total funding for the further education (FE) sector.

2. The figures include moneys provided for participation and certain funding for earmarked purposes, including capital, the Standards Fund and other special grants to colleges.

3. The figures are consistent with those published in the DfES "Departmental Annual Report 2004".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the 14–16 Increased Flexibility Programme will be continued. [201265]

An announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many qualified physical education teachers were teaching in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in 2004; and what the figures were for 1997. [202720]

Primary school teachers are trained to deliver all subjects in the national curriculum including PE.

Information on the numbers of teachers of PE in secondary schools and their qualifications was collected in November 1996 and 2002.

The following table gives the number of full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools who taught some PE, year groups seven to 13, and the highest post A level qualification held in the subject for those years.

Physical education

⁽¹⁹⁾ Equals zero or less than 0.5 per cent.

Notes:

1. The sum of the percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. Teachers may also teach subjects other than PE.

3. The degree category includes higher degrees but exclude BEds.

4. Where a teacher has more than one post A level qualification in PE, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qualification). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in PE, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree.

Source:

Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey.

The following table shows the proportion of subject periods taught in PE in maintained secondary schools, year groups 7 to 13, by teachers holding a post A level qualification. It shows that in 2002 and 1996 94 per cent. of PE periods were taught by a teacher with a post A level qualification in PE.

Physical education

⁽²⁰⁾ Equals zero or less than 0.5 per cent.

Notes:

1. The sum of the percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. Teachers may also teach subjects other than PE.

3. The degree category includes higher degrees but exclude BEds.

4. Where a teacher has more than one post A level qualification in PE, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qualification). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in PE, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree.

Source:

Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary school teachers there are in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local education authority, broken down by (i) race and (ii) gender. [201678]

Information on the ethnic origin of teachers in the maintained sector is collected annually, but cannot be split by gender or phase of education. A breakdown of the information available for January 2004 at national, regional and LEA level was published in SFR 34/2004, Table 18. A copy of this has been placed in the House of Commons Library. It is also available at the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000493/index.shtml

The following table gives the headcount number of qualified full-time and part-time primary teachers employed in maintained nursery and primary schools by gender for England, by region and LEA at March 2003, (the latest information available by gender).

Numbers of qualified regular teachers in service in maintained nursery and primary schools, March 2003