To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which submarines are to be replaced by the three Astute class submarines on order; and what their planned dates for decommissioning are. [201633]

We are not directly replacing our existing nuclear attack submarines platform by platform. The capability currently provided by the Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes will in future be met by the Astute Class.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he expects HMS Astute to become fully operational. [201632]

HMS Astute is expected to become fully operational in 2009 after a period of extensive weapon system proving trials. The Submarine will be available to the Fleet for limited operations before these trials complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the proposed reductions in budgets of (a) Commander-in-Chief Fleet, (b) Commander-in-Chief Land Command, (c) Commander-in-Chief Strike Command and (d) Chief of Defence Logistics will have on frontline capability; and if he will make a statement. [203281]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 December 2004, Official Report, columns 338–39W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of criminal damage to his Department's buildings in each of the last two years. [200798]

The information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what time scale has been written into the contract with Atkins for the systems house role for the Future Rapid Effects System. [200016]

The Systems House, under the strategic direction of the Ministry of Defence, will be leading the programme of studies during the Assessment Phase designed to inform MOD's future investment decisions on Future Rapid Effect System. The Assessment Phase is scheduled to last for two years and will complete in November 2006. The contract with Atkins reflects this time line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the new family of medium vehicles will be operational. [200019]

The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is now in its initial Assessment Phase. A contract has now been awarded to Atkins who, under the strategic direction of the Ministry of Defence, will be leading a number of key activities designed to inform MOD's major programme decisions. Part of this Assessment Phase work will be to identify and reduce risk in the programme to enable us to define an appropriate In-Service Date (ISD) in both capability and programme terms for endorsement at Main Gate. The ISD will not be formally endorsed until then, but our initial planning assumption is to introduce the early variants of FRES around the end of the decade, with a phased approach to achieving full operational capability thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training Army units deploying to Iraq receive (a) before deployment and (b) in-theatre in Iraq. [199568]

British armed forces deploying to Iraq receive one of two comprehensive pre-deployment training packages, covering a wide variety of mandatory briefings, skills training and theatre acclimatisation, dependent upon whether they are deployed on an individual basis or as part of a group deployment. Once in theatre they receive refresher and specific-to-theatre training designed to prepare them for their respective jobs, and allow them to be deployed acclimatised, and trained in the tasks that they are to perform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what large scale co-operative exercises organised by EU Military Staff he expects will take place in the next five years; and from what budgets UK participation will be funded. [200380]

The EU Military Staff currently have no plans for a large-scale co-operative exercise involving the field deployment of troops. However, EU and/or joint EU-NATO crisis management exercises, involving command structures and headquarters, are envisaged in each of the years 2006 to 2009, and will involve exercising arrangements for the augmentation of the relevant HQ. They will focus on how the EU responds to crises using both civilian and military instruments in an EU-led operation.

The majority of costs for EU exercises are funded on a "costs lie where they fall" basis. In practice, therefore, the cost to the UK of hosting an exercise would be met by the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), as it was for this year's exercise; and the cost of providing staff for an exercise hosted by another member state would be met by the Top Level Budget Holder providing the staff. There are also a few additional costs, such as costs incurred by EU recourse to NATO common assets, that are shared by member states on a Gross National Income key. This is the same approach as for other exercises involving comparable international institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many type-45s will be capable of deploying simultaneously when they are all in-service. [201641]

With eight Type 45 destroyers in service, a minimum of five units would be available to the Fleet, at various states of readiness, for deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation she (a) has had and (b) proposes to have with the Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association regarding the Bee Health Programme. [200428]

My officials are consulting the national beekeeping associations in England about our future plans for the bee health programme. These associations include the British Beekeepers' Association, of which the Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers' Association is a member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants worked for her Department in each of the last five years. [201129]

Defra was created in June 2001 and the figures shown in the following table relate to the period since then.

Numbers shown are permanent staff in full-time equivalents.

These changes were mainly due to the creation of the Rural Payments Agency on 16 October 2001. RPA took over all 1,080 staff from the Intervention Board Executive Agency (which has not been included in Defra staff in post statistics) and around 1,860 staff from the core Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her target time is in 2004–05 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [202359]

The Department's target time for answering such letters is 15 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the report Current and Future Deer Management Options, published in December 2003. [202034]

I asked my officials to assess the report and they found it to be excellent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her 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 she will make a statement. [199628]

The quality and accessibility is not as high as I would like but it is our policy that our websites should comply fully with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative's guidelines (as detailed in the Guidelines for UK Government websites). I am told that our current website designs are intended to meet in full the Priority 1 (level A) standards. Work is now being undertaken to update older content on our website that may not meet current standards in full, while further work on both technical and authoring issues is intended to raise our standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on establishing coexistence measures for the growing of GM crops. [201269]

In collaboration with the Devolved Administrations we held a series of stakeholder workshops between August and October. We are now developing a package of specific proposals and options for general consultation. Our original aim was to publish the written consultation package this year, but as there are aspects we need to explore further it will not now be issued until 2005. We plan to have co-existence measures in place before there is any commercial GM cultivation in the UK. This is not expected before 2008 at the earliest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Hunting Act 2004 upon those whose livelihoods are (a) directly and (b) indirectly dependent on hunting; and if she will review the commencement date for the hunting ban to take account of the Minister for Rural Affairs' expressed concerns about the potential impact of implementation in February 2005. [200730]

The Government do not expect that significant numbers of people will find themselves out of work as a result of the Act and many will be able to divert into other activities. Lord Burns estimated that around 700 jobs were directly dependent on hunting and that, overall, between 6,000 and 8,000 jobs could be affected by a ban, although evidence given to the Portcullis House hearings suggested that this may be an overstatement. The Government have not made any further assessment of the economic impact of the Act.

The Government believe that a longer implementation time would have helped businesses and individuals to prepare for the ban. Our proposal to defer commencement until July 2006 was, regrettably and perversely, rejected by the House of Lords.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many written questions for her Department were unanswered when Parliament prorogued; and how many of the unanswered questions were tabled in each of the previous months of the 2003–04 Session. [201550]

I can confirm that we did not have any written questions unanswered when Parliament prorogued.

Four parliamentary questions had not been responded to with a substantive answer when the House prorogued. Each received a response promising to write to the MP with a reply. All four questions were tabled in November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the European Commission about the development of an action plan for ACP sugar producers as envisaged in the EC Communication on sugar published in July. [200241]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has stressed the importance of the early delivery of a credible and effective action plan to provide appropriate adjustment aid for existing preferential sugar suppliers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries throughout discussion of the European Commission's Communication on sugar reform. As already reported to the House, she welcomed the commitment given by the Commission at the November meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to bring forward a draft by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has made to the European Commission on the (a) delivery, (b) timing and (c) package of measures for ACP sugar producers in the Caribbean. [200242]

Officials from both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and from the Department for International Development have participated in a number of meetings with the European Commission on these issues. They have stressed the priority the UK attaches to the early delivery of a credible and effective action plan to provide appropriate adjustment aid for existing preferential sugar suppliers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries. They have also offered to share with the Commission the results of three pieces of independent research we have commissioned to help analyse the impacts of reform and determine how to address them. We hope these studies will contribute to discussions between the Commission and the countries concerned and help to ensure that the adjustment process is properly managed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his target time is in 2004–05 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in his Office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [200766]

The information is as follows:

(a) My colleagues and I aim to reply to letters from hon. Members within 15 working days unless the correspondence relates to Her Majesty's Prison Service or immigration and nationality matters when we aim to reply within 20 working days.

(b) Officials aim to reply to letters and e-mails from members of the public within 20 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the objectives are of the National Offender Management Information Project. [200000]

The National Offender Management Information Project will provide the National Offender Management Service with a centralised offender database. This will help to achieve its central aim of reducing re-offending, as well as support new sentencing provisions, replace aged IT systems in Prisons and Probation, and contribute to better communication and co-operation with other Criminal Justice Organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates in the last 12 months he has met right hon. and hon. Members to discuss potential sites for the building of new prison establishments; and which right hon. and hon. Members attended each meeting. [199445]

I met with the hon. Member for Elmet (Colin Burgon) to discuss the possible development of a site for a new prison on 18 November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires there were in Her Majesty's prisons from 1 January to the end of October, broken down by prison; and whether (a) prison staff and (b) prisoners were hurt. [199789]

There have been 919 fires in Her Majesty's prisons from 1 January to 31 October 2004. A breakdown by establishment is provided in the table.

Fires in prisons from 1 January 2004 to 31 October 2004

Information is not held centrally on the number of staff or prisoners injured as a result of these incidents and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine which fire authority is responsible for prisons and detention centres. [199793]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for fire legislation and is the enforcing authority. Fire Crown Premises Inspection Group is the fire authority responsible for prisons and detention centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an independent review of Prison Service fire advisors. [199795]

There is no need for an independent review. The Prison Service has already commissioned the Building Research Establishment (Fire) to undertake an independent Fire Safety Survey and Review of the prison estate. Those undertaking this work will assess the current situation with regard to fire safety, report their findings and make appropriate recommendations. The Prison Service will review the provision of professional technical advice on fire safety related issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Fire Safety Section of the Prison Service has been restructured; and what new arrangements for the operation of the Section came into force on 4 October. [199796]

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) Fire was commissioned as an independent specialist body in September 2004 to carry out a survey and review of fire safety issues across the prison estate. This work concentrates primarily on fire safety risks in prison cells.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine what firefighting equipment is available in each prison; and what assessment he makes of (a) the materials used in the construction, (b) the location and (c) the water pressure available in the vicinity of prisons and detention centres in making such decisions. [199797]

Fire legislation and risk assessments determine the requirements for firefighting equipment. The materials used in construction comply with Building Regulations, Fire Regulations and British and European Standards for fire, and prison operational and security needs.

At the building design stage, the need for appropriate location and water pressure for firefighting equipment is taken into account. Measures are taken to provide adequate firefighting facilities. There may include the installation of separate water tanks, ponds, lakes; and where necessary the water system is pressurised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether more people were prosecuted in 2002 than were arrested. [199640]

The estimated number of persons arrested for at least one notifiable offence in England and Wales 2002 is 1,308,800. In the same period 642,800¹ persons were prosecuted for at least one notifiable offence.

¹ These data are on the principal offence basis.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what factors underlie the increase in the number of staff employed in the Serjeant at Arms Department between 2000 and 2004; and if he will make a statement. [202085]

A major factor contributing to the increase in staff numbers in the Serjeant at Arms Department has been the growth in responsibilities of the Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD), to deal with the provision of IT to both Houses and associated support services. Furthermore, following the Braithwaite Review of the Department in 2000–01, new posts were identified in the Parliamentary Works Services Directorate. Various other posts were created, including posts of procurement manager, IT security officer and head of finance. The Central Tours Office was set up in 2003.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost was of (a) producing and (b) distributing the Parliamentary Communications Directorate information folder; how many were distributed; to whom; and if he will make a statement. [201077]

1,000 information folders have been produced in response to customer feedback showing that Members wanted to have a single point of reference for Member information. The folders cost £5.72 each. The folders are being issued to all Members of the House of Commons. Some folders were handed out in person at a recent Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) customer service event and the remainder are being distributed via the internal mail service. Neither approach has resulted in readily attributable distribution costs.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission whether he has been informed of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in his Department since its implementation. [201275]

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers applies to temporary civil servants appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council. No staff in this category are employed in the House of Commons Service.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the estimated cost to the House was of the State Opening of Parliament on 23 November. [201717]

The final cost of the 2004 State Opening of Parliament is not yet known but is forecast to be similar to that of 2003 which, for Parliament as a whole, was £127,660. 60 per cent. of the cost, £76,596, is attributed to the House of Commons.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department (a) provides and (b) plans to provide to (i) Armenia, (ii) Azerbaijan and (iii) Georgia to remediate contaminated industrial land; and what assessment he has made of the recent combined report on this matter by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations Development Programme and the UN Environment Programme. [202815]

DFID is not involved in contaminated industrial land remediation in the countries of the South Caucasus. DFID's bilateral assistance programmes in Armenia and Georgia provide support for poverty reduction through improved governance and sustainable economic growth. DFID does not have a bilateral assistance programme in Azerbaijan but is assisting the Government to participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

DFID has no plans to provide direct support to assist remediation of contaminated industrial land. DFID is aware that the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are supporting a joint initiative on Environment and Security (ENVSEC). They have published a recent report on "Environment and Security, Transforming Risks into Cooperation—The Case for the Southern Caucasus". The report provides a useful overview of related environment, security and development issues in the region. It includes challenges presented by contaminated industrial land, resulting from complete or partial closure of old soviet era industrial facilities.

DFID understands that the OSCE, UNDP and UNEP are developing a work programme to address the challenges presented in the report. DFID intends to use its involvement in international networks to encourage effective action to address this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [200867]

The Department for International Development (DFID) does not provide crèche facilities. However, DFID does provide holiday playschemes for it's staff in its offices in London and East Kilbride. The costs of the holiday playschemes are as follows:

East Kilbride

£10 annual registration fee for first child and £5 for each additional child plus £10 per child per day, paid wholly by the parents.

London

£30 per child per day of which the parent and DFID each pay £15 each. For financial year 2003–04, the cost to DFID for subsidising DFID parents' use of the Whitehall Holiday Playscheme was £2,295.

The Department for International Development is also intending to conduct a review of the childcare support provided and whether there is sufficient demand for other provisions, for instance an on-site nursery, childcare vouchers or salary sacrifice schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to ensure the safety of British aid workers in the Darfur region. [201973]

Humanitarian agencies in Darfur are operating in a very difficult and insecure environment. DFID deplores the recent upsurge in violence in Darfur which is worsening the insecurity in certain parts.

Along with the UN and others, the UK Government continue to press both the Government of Sudan and the rebels to stop the fighting and implement the Abuja humanitarian and security protocols, to allow unfettered and secure access throughout Darfur.

The UK has provided significant support to UN agencies and NGOs for security and communications to help agencies operate safely. DFID has recently provided further funding of £820,000 to the United Nations Security Co-Ordinator (UNSECOORD) to ensure that their full funding needs are met. This will allow it to expand its capacity and presence in Darfur, supporting it's security co-ordination and management of UN operations as well as to assist non-governmental-organisations. DFID has also provided £1.5 million to the UN's 'Fast IT and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team' (FITTEST) to enhance security communications in North Sudan (including Darfur). This will help the UN operations to become 'Minimum Operational Security Standard' (MOSS) compliant. More broadly, the UK provides on-going support to 'Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief' (Red R) for security training for NGO staff globally. This year it has included a Security and Staff Safety Management training course in Nyala (South Darfur).

The African Union mission has a key role to play in improving the security situation on the ground. They are specifically mandated to

"contribute to a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian relief".

DFID is not looking at military protection for the aid convoys beyond this. NGOs and the UN consider that they would be more at risk of being targeted if they travelled under armed escort. We are keeping this situation under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last two years. [200856]

DFID has not bought-in or outsourced any accountancy services, within our central finance function, over the last two years because we have sufficient in-house capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) new builds, (b) demolition rebuilds and (c) private finance initiative projects in his Department in each of the last two years. [200857]

The cost of new builds for DFID overseas office in the last two years was as follows:

There were no demolition rebuilds or Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 345, to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock) what the (a) number and (b) locations of civilians in and around Fallujah to whom humanitarian assistance could be provided. [202128]

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports that around 210,000 civilians from Fallujah are currently living in the area around Fallujah: 120,000 in and around Amiriyah, 24,000 in Hababniyah, 21,000 in and around Karma, 21,000 in Nieamiyah, 12,000 in and around Saklawiya, and 12,000 spread across the smaller towns of Heet, Aana, Rawa, and Hadeatha. Assessments by the Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) indicate that a further estimated 35,000 civilians from Fallujah are currently situated in Baghdad. It is estimated that only a few thousand civilians remain in the city of Fallujah.

The IIG reports that the majority of Fallujah's displaced civilians are staying with family and friends. Some are in schools, mosques, and Government buildings, and a small number are in tents. The IIG, the Multi-National Force, and humanitarian agencies agree that there is no humanitarian crisis in and around Fallujah.

The IIG is monitoring the situation and co-ordinating humanitarian work in the area. A cross-ministry Core Co-ordination Group has been established, and representatives from key Iraqi Ministries are now on the ground, conducting assessments and distributing essential supplies. The IIG is also working with the Multi-National Force, UN agencies, and NGOs to ensure safe access to Fallujah's displaced civilians, and to plan for their return to the city. DFID is providing technical advice to the IIG Fallujah Core Co-ordination Group and is maintaining close contact with representatives from the Multi-National Force and with humanitarian organisations on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98. [200397]

DFID does not hold these costs centrally. However, in the last seven years we are aware of spending on training as follows:

DFID is committed to ensuring staff have the right skills and expertise to meet our commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.

We manage numerous external training providers covering a range of subjects such as economics, working with Ministers and Parliament, language training, leadership and management.

A more definitive answer could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 1997–98 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request. [200417]

DFID does not hold all the information centrally. However, in the last three financial years we are aware of the following money paid to training providers for courses that we have cancelled:

DFID values its staff. We are committed to providing training and learning opportunities and developing staff to their full potential.

A more definitive answer could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development aid has been provided by the Government to the governments of (a) Turkmenistan and (b) Armenia in each year since 2000; what conditions have been attached in each case; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of those conditions. [201976]

DFID's bilateral assistance to Armenia and Turkmenistan for the period 2000–04 was as follows:

⁽¹⁾ Planned disbursements in the current 2004–05 financial year.

Additionally, the UK's attributed share of multilateral assistance to: (i) Armenia; (ii) Turkmenistan was as follows:

All figures in £ million

⁽²⁾EBRD and Asian Development Fund

DFID's bilateral technical assistance is untied as set out in rules and regulations governing the delivery of DFID's development assistance—there are no general or specific conditions placed on recipient countries. In the period from 2000 DFID's bilateral assistance programme in Armenia has been provided in the form of technical assistance through a range of projects to support the Armenian Government's reform agenda.

Development assistance to Turkmenistan has been provided through a small grants scheme administered by the British embassy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the inquiry into the A30 improvement at Goss Moor lasted; what period has elapsed since the conclusion of the inquiry; and when he expects a decision to be announced. [203076]

The local inquiry sat for seven days between Tuesday 13 January 2004 and Tuesday 3 February 2004. The Inspector's report was received on 30 April 2004 and the decision announced on Monday 29 November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether UK airline captains experiencing cockpit or cabin air contamination event serious enough for pilots to use emergency oxygen have a responsibility to inform passengers to which chemicals they might have been exposed. [202745]

Pilots are required to use oxygen as a precautionary measure in all cases of suspected cockpit air abnormalities irrespective of severity of event. Flight crew are not professionally qualified to verify the cause of air contamination or identify what chemicals if any, passengers may have been exposed to. The captain has discretion to inform passengers of an event.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the 1999 UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment that neuropsychological abnormalities can occur as a long-term complication of acute organophosphate poisoning, with particular reference to aviation lubricant Exxon Mobil Jet oil. [202744]

The report concluded that acute organophosphate poisoning occurs mainly in sheep dipping or orchard spraying. There is no convincing evidence that it also occurs in relation to aviation lubricants, where organophosphates may be present only as trace elements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority records incidents of UK pilots flying with (a) headaches, (b) eye, nose and throat irritation, (c) concentration difficulties and (d) dizziness and nausea. [202743]

The CAA has a Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) system in place and any form of incident leading to incapacitation while on duty has to be reported by the pilot.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of traffic congestion over the Jubilee Bridge across the Mersey on investment and economic growth in the North West. [202053]

These issues are addressed in Halton borough council's appraisal of the proposed New Mersey Crossing recently submitted to my Department. We are now considering this appraisal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the inspector's report of the inquiry into proposals for port and commercial development at London Gateway, Shell Haven; and when he expects to announce a decision. [203088]

The inspector's report of the inquiry into proposals for port and commercial development at London Gateway, Shell Haven was received by Government at the end of February. The report is receiving careful attention in my Department in respect of the port and in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of the commercial development. Decisions will be announced when consideration has been completed in accordance with statutory procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of compliance by drivers with the legislation forbidding the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. [202282]

The Department has been undertaking regular surveys of the use of mobile phones while driving. The last survey carried out in September 2004 showed that 1.1 per cent. of car drivers surveyed on weekdays were using a hand-held phone. This compares with 1.5 per cent. in September 2003. Further details are set out in a leaflet "Mobile phone use by drivers, 2002–04", available on-line at www.trl.co.uk/abstracts/lf2094.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions in November (a) 2004 and (b) 2003 motorways in England were closed to traffic for more than three hours. [203091]

Motorways in England were closed to traffic for more than three hours 39 times in November 2003 and 85 times in November 2004. Of the 2004 closures, at least 30 closures were due to major maintenance works and communications system upgrades. All of these closures were implemented in off-peak hours to minimise disruption to road users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he rejected the advice of the South West Regional Assembly on the options for improving the A303 and A30 to the west of Ilminster; and if he will make a statement. [202114]

The decision in favour of the A358 from near Ilminster to the M5 at Taunton follows completion of detailed technical work by the Highways Agency comparing the options of improving the A303 through the Blackdown Hills or improving the A358. The decision followed very careful consideration given to the full range of issues raised by the choice between these two alternative routes, including the scheme costs, economic benefits and environmental impacts. This also took into account the views of the Regional Assembly and other stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the total cost to public funds of seeking the advice of the South West Regional Assembly on alternative options for improving the A303 or A358 to the west of Ilminster. [202115]

Information on the costs incurred by the South West Regional Assembly is not held by the Department for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the basis was for his conclusion that improving the A358 provides better value for money than improving the A303 west of Ilminster. [202116]

All candidate schemes for the Targeted Programme of Improvements are assessed in accordance with the New Approach to Appraisal. This looks at the scheme's overall performance against our five appraisal criteria, namely Environment, Safety, Economy, Accessibility and Integration. The Highways Agency assessed both the A303 west of Ilminster and the A358 schemes on this basis. This showed that the A358 would cost around £90 million less than the A303 option, had a higher benefit to cost ratio and performed significantly better in terms of impacts on landscape, townscape, heritage of historic resources, biodiversity and the water environment. The A303 option performed better in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.

The performance of the schemes against other appraisal criteria was broadly similar. The overall assessment was that the A358 option performed significantly better against our appraisal criteria and therefore gave the higher value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many grants for the promotion of road safety have been made by his Department under section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in each of the last seven years; and what the total cost has been. [203090]

Grant given between 1997–98 and 2003–04 is shown in the table:

So far 20 grants have been given during 2004–05, totalling £522,669. Further applications are still being considered for this current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road fatalities arising from the loss of road wheels from heavy commercial vehicles occurred in each of the last five years; how many wheel loss incidents there were in that period; what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on this issue; and what assessment he has made of the effects of safety wheel nuts in reducing accidents. [201197]

Figures are not currently recorded in the form requested, but I attach a table showing the statistics available. It should be noted that there may sometimes be delays in listing figures while the findings of coroners' courts are awaited.

Heavy goods vehicles and trailers—wheel detachment—January 1997 to August 2003

Some research was undertaken in 1997, following which a guidance leaflet was issued. More investigation is currently in hand with findings expected shortly, and further research to look at wheel fixings and methods of tightening is under consideration for next year. The Department has not commissioned research into locking wheel nuts, but work on behalf of the British Standards Institution indicated that a loss of clamp force—due to settlement between the interfaces of the wheel-fixing assembly—can take place without rotation of the nut. Thus, although use of locking devices can prevent loss of wheel nuts the devices cannot counteract a loss of clamp force, and excessive wear as a consequence of this could result in the loss of a wheel while nuts were still attached. Nonetheless there might be benefit in some cases, with such equipment preventing or delaying total loss of a wheel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of fatalities caused by the loss of wheels from heavy commercial vehicles; what estimate he has made of the number of (a) fatalities and (b) incidents caused by such losses; what research he is undertaking into this problem; what assessment he has made of the availability of safety wheel nuts; and if he will make a statement. [201198]

On(a) and (b) , figures relating to heavy goods vehicle wheel detachment cases and fatalities have already been given in an associated response given today "(UIN 201197)". Some research was undertaken in the late 1990s and further research is currently under way with more under consideration. While research has concentrated on the extent, rather than the causes, of wheel loss the results have shown that a major factor is lack of regular and effective maintenance. In the Department's view, while locking wheel nuts can prevent loss of wheel nuts and might in some cases prevent total loss of a wheel, they cannot prevent the loss of clamp force as a result of which it would be possible for wheel loss to occur, through excessive wear, while wheel nuts were still attached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used by the Highways Agency to determine whether (a) treatment of stretches or routes for non-maintenance reasons is included in the annual budget of the Highways Agency and (b) such treatment includes noise barriers. [200638]

The annual budget of the Highways Agency is agreed by Ministers taking account of the resources available for transport and competing priorities from the different programmes. Within that budget, priority is given to maintaining the strategic network, reducing congestion and improving safety, in accordance with the key targets set the Highways Agency. A ring-fenced annual budget of £5 million is allocated to treating noise problems at identified sites. Priorities for resurfacing of concrete roads ahead of maintenance need, subject to the availability of funding, were set out in the Secretary of State's announcement of 1 April 2003. The Highways Agency's budget and programme will be set out in its Business Plan, due to be published in the new year.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will allow members of the pre-October 2002 Civil Service Pension Scheme to remarry without losing their original pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement. [202956]

For clarification, members of the pre-October 2002 Civil Service Pension Scheme do not lose their pension on remarriage. However, the surviving spouses of deceased former members do have their widows'/widowers' pensions stopped on remarriage or cohabitation. I presume that it is these widows' and widowers' pensions to which the hon. Member's question relates.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 13 October 2004, Official Report, column 317W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [202341]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in line with the rest of the civil service, does not discriminate against staff or eligible applicants for posts on the grounds of age. Decisions on recruitment, selection, training, promotion and career management are based solely on objective and job related criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her target time is in 2004–05 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in her Office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [202339]

The Department's current target date for answering all correspondence is 18 working days.

Information on the departmental handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament/Peers is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The 2003 annual report is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost. [202340]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not provide crèche facilities. The Department provides support to working parents by participating in the Westminster Holiday Play scheme. The scheme provides holiday child care for children aged between four and 12 years. The cost per day is £30 and DCMS contributes half.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of (a) new builds, (b) demolition rebuilds and (c) private finance initiative projects in her Department in each of the last two years. [202330]

DCMS has not been involved in any new builds, demolition rebuilds or private finance initiative projects in the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [202333]

There are no empty properties owned or leased by DCMS. The information requested in respect of agencies and non-departmental public bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by her Department in each of the last two years. [202334]

During 2002–03 £120,000 was spent on building fabric in compliance with lease requirements and £102,000 to redecorate and re-carpet a floor vacated by a tenant to enable occupation by departmental staff. The sum of £8,088 has also been spent in 2003–04 decorating to repair the effects of fair wear and tear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of refurbishing each Ministerial Private Office was in the last two years. [202335]

Work carried out for fair wear and tear on private offices during the last two years has been at a cost of £8,801.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last two years. [202337]

There have not been any incidents of criminal damage, including graffiti, involving DCMS property during the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last two years. [202331]

Ministerial cars are provided by the Government Car and Despatch service, at a cost of:

The cost of taxis in the last two full years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on energy costs incurred by her Department in each of the last two years. [202332]

The cost of energy procured by DCMS is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last two years. [202336]

The staff restaurant and meetings hospitality are a single contract, the cost of which over the last two full years was:

A new catering contract was let in October 2004 at a saving for restaurant services of almost £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by her Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case. [202343]

The only equipment leases are those for multi-function copier printers, at a leasing cost of £52,355 per annum including maintenance and software support but excluding cost per copy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the gender pay gap among staff in her Department. [202342]

DCMS completed an equal pay review in 2002 and has since taken action to narrow the gaps in pay between men and women. As a result of our equal pay action the percentage difference in salaries between men and women has reduced in all grades, except grade D where the average salary is higher for women than that for men.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) projected cost at the time of tender and (b) actual cost at the time of completion was for each IT contract commissioned by her Department over the last five years. [201613]

The Department has let four IT contracts in the past five years. The costs of the first are set out as follows. The remainder are for ongoing services so it is not possible to give a completion cost, however the costs of operation have been as per the original estimates.

NCC for IT security testing—projected cost £26,500, actual costs £26,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when Patrick Carter's report on the Government's proposed National Sports Foundation will be published. [202526]

Paragraph 6.50 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget report presented to Parliament on 2 December sets out the provisional interim findings of Lord Carter's Review of funding for sport and states that his report will be published in spring 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of Great British Olympians and Paralympians (a) medal winners and (b) squad members were educated at secondary level within the state system; and what the figures were for the previous Olympics. [202918]

This information is not held by Sport England or UK Sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her most recent estimate is of the number of sports clubs that will face an increase in their licensing fees as a result of the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; and what estimate she has made of the average percentage increase in the size of the licensing fees to be paid by sports clubs following the implementation of the Act. [202797]

holding answer 6 December 2004

We have looked at the position for registered members' clubs (sports and others) of which there are 20,000. The cost of a premises licence or club premises certificate represents a saving for most sports clubs over a period of 10 years depending on the scope and regularity of the club's activities. The fee of £16 currently paid for registered members' clubs is only one of the fees that they currently pay. If they have music and dancing after normal opening hours they require certificates of suitability (ranging from £50 to £500); special hours certificates (£25); and special orders of exemption (£10 a time). Each of these is charged individually and some are required on multiple occasions in a year. Under the Licensing Act 2003 they would all be included in the fee for a single club premises certificate. Any percentage increase or decrease in fees for a club will therefore depend on the range of certificates currently held. The Government's policy is that licensing fees must be set at a level that allows full recovery of the administration, inspection and enforcement costs falling on licensing authorities. It would be wholly wrong for central or local taxation to subsidise the consumption of alcohol, and it would be difficult to argue that the best way to promote sport is through Government subsidising sports club bars.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Minister for Children will acknowledge the letter sent to her by the Lowe Syndrome Trust. [203270]

I received a letter from the Lowe Syndrome Trust on 19 October. I have since made contact with the Trust and am due to meet with representatives of the organisation in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last two years. [200816]

The total of costs classified as purchased accountancy services in the accounts of the Department in 2002–03 and 2003–04 respectively is £69,584.00 and £190,990.28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) average primary formula spending share per pupil and (b) average secondary formula spending share per pupil is in each local education authority in 2005–06, listed in descending order of secondary formula allocations. [202671]

In England, the formula for the primary and secondary sub-blocks comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil, which is the same across the country, plus a top-up for each pupil with additional educational needs, which is again the same across the country, plus top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings will receive a higher level of funding per pupil. The following table shows the average School Formula Spending Share for primary and secondary pupils, as announced on 2 December 2004 in the provisional Local Government Settlement for 2005–06. The figures are set out in descending order.