To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 22 and 23 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [199752]

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 2004. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Ministers with responsibility for agriculture and fisheries were also present.

The Council opened on the first day in office of the new Commission. The Council welcomed Commissioners Mariann Fischer-Boel, Markos Kyprianou and Joe Borg to their new posts.

The Presidency secured qualified majority support for a political agreement on a compromise text updating the current rules on the welfare of animals during transport. I supported the proposal, which contains significant improvements to the current rules, including a strengthening of the enforcement rules in Europe, stricter rules for journeys of more than eight hours and new rules for the transport of horses. The proposal also sets out a clear timetable for the review of the new rules together with a commitment to address the issue of journey times, space allowances and rest periods no later than four years after they have come into effect.

The Council had a lengthy exchange of views on reform in the sugar sector, based on the Commission's communication of July 2004. The Commission indicated that it would not make formal proposals until May or June next year when the result of the EU's appeal against a WTO panel ruling on the sugar regime had been received. The Commission would press for political agreement before the WTO Ministerial scheduled for Hong Kong in December 2005. A majority of member states were critical of the Commission's approach thus far and argued for minimal change, principally aimed at maintaining production in all those areas of the EU where it is currently found. I argued that the current regime was unsustainable and that reform was inescapable. The EU needed to honour its external obligations and I welcomed the Commission's commitment to bringing forward a draft action plan for assistance to the ACP countries by the end of the year.

In a brief discussion of the rural development and CAP financing proposals, there was general support for the rural development measures, although concerns were expressed on a number of specific issues such as the proposed structure for the new regulation and the treatment of less favoured areas. I stressed the importance of further transfers to Pillar 2 measures, the case for a more objective allocation of funds and the need for equitable treatment of the non-euro member states. Discussion will continue at official level.

The Presidency drew attention to its initiative for member states to co-operate on agricultural research in order to avoid duplication and to maximise value for money. I supported this initiative and expressed our readiness to co-operate with Luxembourg in taking it forward next year.

Under Other Business, Estonia described its problems relating to a Russian ban on imports of plant material, Spain called for collaboration with Morocco in the field of animal health, Germany asked the Commission to bring forward legislation on the marketing of seeds of plant varieties of conservation importance, and Slovakia requested funding under the natural disasters heading following gales in the High Tatras national park.

The Commission reported progress in the bilateral negotiations on a 2005 fisheries agreement with Norway. Good progress had been made in a first round of negotiations on 15–19 November, including provisional agreement on some of the more contentious issues. My hon. Friend and other member states congratulated the Commission on progress so far while underlining the importance of concluding the negotiations rapidly so that EU fishermen are able to fish in Norway waters from 1 January.

The Council had a first debate on the Commission's proposals for a European Fisheries Fund (to replace the existing fund for structural improvements in the fisheries sector from 2007). My hon. Friend made clear that the proposal from certain other member states that this should provide for subsidies for fleet renewal would mean going back on a key plank of the 2002 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and was not acceptable. Discussions will continue next year.

The Council reached agreement by qualified majority on a proposal to allocate quotas to deep sea species to certain new member states, based on a presidency compromise tabled at the meeting. Although the compromise went some way towards requests from the United Kingdom and others that new allocations should be on the same basis as allocation to the EU15, the UK abstained in the vote because the proposal had not cleared Parliamentary Scrutiny and because the Government have concerns about the management regime for deep sea species.

The Council held a discussion on management measures for fisheries in the Baltic Sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish the results of her consultation on four-wheel drive vehicles and access to the countryside on by-ways open to all traffic. [202061]

I intend to publish the response to the consultation on the "Use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way" in January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget has been set by her Department for (a) consumption of resources and (b) capital spending for (i) environmental protection, (ii) animal health and welfare, (iii) food, farming and fisheries, (iv) land use and rural affairs, (v) departmental operations, (vi) the Rural Payments Agency and (vii) other executive agencies for (A) 2005–06, (B) 2006–07 and (C) 2007–08. [202039]

The 2004 departmental report (Cm 6219) shows financial breakdowns for departmental spending up to 2005–06. The information includes how budgets are allocated to deliver the department's functions and objectives. At present, final internal management decisions on budgets for 2006–07 and 2007–08 (plus revisions to 2005–06) are still being made. The next departmental report due to be published in spring 2005, will set out information on budgets up to 2007–08 and reflect any organisational changes which have been made over the last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 is expected to come fully into force. [199441]

Since the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act received Royal Assent in July 2004, a Commencement Order has been laid before Parliament bringing into effect from 1 December 2004 those provisions in the Act which relate to the establishment of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. Consultation on the draft Gangmaster Licensing Authority Regulations has been completed and it is anticipated that the regulations will be presented to the House for consideration immediately after Christmas. If the House is content, it should be possible to legally establish the Licensing Authority by 1 April 2005.

Once established, the authority will need to develop and put in place licensing arrangements. This will include work to develop the conditions to be attached to a licence and the associated audit and compliance arrangements. We are working with stakeholders to ensure that the authority will be in a position to make early progress on these issues. We hope that the authority can start dealing with the first round of licence applications in 2005 with a view to completing the process of issuing first licences by mid 2006.

In the mean time, the Code of Practice launched recently by the Ethical Trading Initiative Temporary Labour Working Group, provides an important opportunity for the whole food chain to show its commitment to a reduction in worker exploitation while work on the introduction of the statutory licensing arrangements proceeds in parallel.

Once the first round of licence applications have been dealt with we will bring the offence of operating as a gangmaster without a licence into effect. At this stage all gangmasters will need to be licensed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for reform of land ownership in England. [202060]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the reduction in (a) electricity use and (b) carbon dioxide emissions if all roadside lighting in the UK were to switch to LED illuminations. [202069]

I have been asked to reply.

The light output and efficiency of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) can now equal or better that of incandescent lamps. However, the light output is still significantly less than the gas discharge light sources used for street lighting, for example high pressure sodium. At present both electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions would increase if the UK switched to LEDs for street lighting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the total (a) electricity use and (b) carbon dioxide emissions produced by (i) roadside street lighting and (ii) other public illumination of roadside signage in the last year for which figures are available. [202070]

I have been asked to reply.

Street lighting in England is the responsibility of local highway authorities in respect of local roads and the Highways Agency in respect of the trunk road network. The electricity supply for public lighting is not normally metered, but is based on notional lamp wattages and hours of use. The actual electricity consumption is therefore unknown. It is for local highway authorities to decide whence to source their electricity supply so, even if the power consumption could be established, calculations about the carbon dioxide emissions produced by street lighting would be impossible without knowing what proportion of authorities have contracted for "green" energy sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how rural funding under the single farm payment will be implemented. [200418]

The CAP reform package agreed in June 2003 allows modulated funds to be compulsorily transferred from farming subsidies to agri-environment and other rural development schemes in all EU member states. A 3 per cent. rate of compulsory EU modulation will apply to subsidy payments in 2005 rising to 5 per cent. from 2007. In addition the UK secured agreement to allow an additional voluntary modulation rate to be levied over and above the EU rate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for rural areas of the new rural funding scheme, with particular reference to North Yorkshire. [200419]

As part of the Rural Strategy 2004 we announced a simplified funding framework which will be clearly focused on the key targets set out by the Secretary of State, particularly deprivation or social exclusion in rural areas and underperforming rural economies. Delivery will be devolved as much as possible. As a result of our work on the rural database, Defra funding will be better targeted at priorities, with greater regional partnership working and prioritisation. Customers and the public will face a less confusing situation and will receive better information and support in their dealings with our delivery agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which body will be the delivery body for the new rural funding scheme. [200420]

The new rural funding framework we announced in Rural Strategy 2004 will have three core funds designed to support three departmental priorities. They are: sustainable rural communities; sustainable farming and food; and natural resource protection. Each will have a grant funding and a core (organisational capacity) funding element. In this framework, Regional Development Agencies will take the lead on regeneration and socio-economic funding, support for the rural voluntary and community sector will rest primarily with Rural Community Councils and their partners, supported by Government Offices, while the new Integrated Agency (also announced in Rural Strategy 2004) will deliver natural resource protection and environmental land-management funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for parish plans of the streamlining process for rural funding. [200421]

In Rural Strategy 2004 we announced that we would simplify our funding framework with delivery devolved as much as possible with parish and town councils playing an important role at the local level. The value of parish plans has been enhanced by the attention and support given to the work of parish and town councils by Ministers and officials at ODPM and Defra, not least through the qualification of clerks and the QUALITY Parish and Town Councils scheme. Having been promoted through pilot schemes on our behalf by the Countryside Agency, we are now working to "mainstream" the parish plan approach and to support further development through the future funding framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by her Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98. [200392]

The responses to parts(a) , (b) and (c) of this question for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 are contained in the summary table.

These details relate only to the core corporate courses delivered by external training providers.

Defra is fully committed to providing access to training for its staff to enable them to deliver Defra's business and to develop them to their full potential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [200412]

The total financial penalties paid equates to 1.4 per cent. of the £5,152,982 total spent on core corporate learning and development in Defra during financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04.

⁽¹⁾ The increased penalties paid in financial year 2001–02 can largely be attributed to the disruption to staff caused by the foot and mouth crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [202422]

The Department's commitment not to discriminate unfairly on the grounds of age is set out clearly in its equal opportunities policy.

We are undertaking a study of the implications for the Department of the forthcoming legislation on age discrimination. Following the study we will prepare a programme of diversity/equality training for managers, and guidance addressing age discrimination.

We have taken steps to introduce flexibility around retirement age: members of the Department below the Senior Civil Service now have the option to remain in work until 65.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the (a) replacement and (b) repair of damaged bus shelters in each of the last three years. [202772]

The Department for Transport does not collect the information requested. The maintenance of bus shelters is a matter for local transport authorities and their private sector partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new bus shelters have been built in each year since 1996–97; how many shelters were upgraded in each year; and how many have been removed during that time. [202773]

The Department for Transport does not collect information of the sort requested. An answer could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to his Department was for the use of external consultants in each of the last two years. [202427]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 21 May 2004, Official Report, column 1231W, to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers. [201691]

The Department's main publicity campaign is the THINK! road safety campaign, which is promoted primarily through TV and radio advertising. We have placed very little press advertising to support THINK! since the Department was formed in 2002 and did not target Muslim newspapers specifically.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental mobile telephones were used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in his Department and its predecessors 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. [202169]

holding answer 6 December 2004

The Department for Transport was created on 29 May 2002. It is not possible to provide figures before this date.

The number of mobile phones used by Ministers and special advisers is as follows:

As the Department does not maintain central records of mobile phones it is not possible to provide further information except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of telephones in his Department by members of staff for their personal use for (i) domestic calls and (ii) international calls; and if he will make a statement. [201079]

Staff have guidance setting out their responsibilities not to misuse the telephone, e-mail and internet systems. In order to ensure that the systems are not abused and that the Department's security is not compromised, the Department may monitor, calls from time to time.

Access to all international numbers is only granted to staff who have a business need to make such international calls. Calls to premium cost networks such as premium rate numbers and some foreign mobile networks are barred completely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to ensure the telephones in his Department are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers. [201080]

Access to all international numbers is only granted to staff who have a business need to make such international calls. Daily call logging reports are provided which highlight the longest and highest cost calls. As a result, some staff have been made to refund the cost of high cost personal calls. Calls to premium cost networks, such as premium rate numbers and some foreign mobile networks, are barred completely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average length of time is between receipt of an application for a (a) theory driving test and (b) practical driving test and the date of the test in (i) Southwark, (ii) Greater London and (iii) England; and if he will make a statement. [203392]

The information is as follows:

(a) Theory Tests

Days

Many candidates prefer to book their theory test some time in advance, as the above data illustrates. Therefore, the average time between booking date and test (shown in column (A)) does not represent the length of time candidates must wait before they may take a test. The average waiting time is more accurately reflected by measuring the number of days between appointment date requested and appointed date allocated (column (B)).

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) does not analyse data for Greater London as a discrete area. Figures given, therefore, relate to the London and south east area.

(b) Practical Car Tests

There is no practical driving test centre (DTC) at Southwark. The nearest test centres are located at Hither Green and South Norwood. DSA does not analyse data for Greater London as a discrete area. Figures given, therefore, relate to the London and south east area. Data for practical tests is not readily available for England as distinct from other countries in Great Britain. DSA has a target to maintain a national average waiting time for car practical tests of six weeks and is seeking to reduce the current figure to target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the areas in the UK that should benefit from public service obligations for lifeline flights. [202683]

The Government have recently consulted with stakeholders on the interpretation of the criteria outlined in the European Regulation governing Public Service Obligations (PSOs). We aim to publish guidance next year on the interpretation of those criteria in establishing PSOs to London airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the (a) lane closure and (b) roadworks on the M62 between junctions 35 and 38 will finish. [201876]

The roadworks on the M62 between junctions 35 and 38 are currently being carried out using a contraflow system. The westbound carriageway is closed and traffic is being directed onto the eastbound carriageway.

In the week commencing 6 December there will be a lane two and three closure eastbound in place followed by a westbound lane three closure. The roadworks are due for completion on 10 December, subject to weather conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the first motorway picnic area to be operative under the provisions of clause 40 of the Road Safety Bill. [203081]

Once the Road Safety Bill has completed its passage through Parliament, the Secretary of State for Transport will have the authority under Clause 40 to establish a motorway rest area. It is expected that this could be by July 2005. The first picnic area could then be operative, subject to obtaining the appropriate planning consents and the availability of funding, by summer 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway services are operating; and what plans the Government has to increase the number. [203075]

There are currently 69 motorway service areas operating in England. Since 1992 it has been Government policy that the private sector should be responsible for bringing forward proposals for motorway service stations through the planning system. Consequently, any increase in the number of motorway service areas would be through commercial development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact the designation of the Grantham to Skegness branch line as a Community Rail Line pilot will have on (a) maintenance funding, (b) service improvement, (c) freight traffic and (d) improving facilities at stations along the line. [202908]

The Grantham to Skegness line is proposed as a pilot scheme under the Government's Community Rail Development Strategy. The objectives of the strategy are to provide a strategic framework for local and rural lines within which they can develop and be put on a sustainable basis for the medium to long term through increasing ridership, freight use and net revenue, managing costs down and greater involvement from the local community. The purpose of the pilot projects is to test the deliverability of these objectives. The scope of each pilot will be determined as the remit for each is developed with the relevant local authorities, Rail Passengers Committee, rail operators and other funding partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions are available to support existing community rail line projects should they fail to secure adequate funding through businesses, charities and Government agencies. [201981]

Support for services on lines proposed for designation as Community Railways is provided through the franchise agreement with the relevant train operator. It is always open to stakeholders along a rail corridor to provide additional support for the further development of the local rail service, such as more services or enhancement projects. One of the aims of the Community Rail Development Strategy is to provide a structure for making use of such resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been (a) killed and (b) injured in accidents on the roads where alcohol was a contributory factor in each of the last five years; in what percentage of road traffic accidents alcohol was a contributory factor, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [202904]

Estimates of the number of casualties in accidents where at least one driver was over the legal drink drive limit are shown in the following table.

Estimates of casualties in accidents involving illegal alcohol levels: GB 1999–2003 -- Casualties/accidents/percentages⁽²⁾

⁽²⁾ Provisional data.

⁽³⁾ Includes serious and slight casualties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was to each police authority of policing accidents in which alcohol was a contributory factor in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [202905]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what evidence he has assessed that shows that drivers who use speed assessment equipment detection devices have a worse accident record than those who do not; [202164]

(2) what evidence he has assessed which shows that the provisions of Clause 17 of the Road Safety Bill will enhance road safety. [202165]

holding answer 6 December 2004

Clause 17 gives the Secretary of State the power to prohibit the fitting of, or the use of vehicles carrying, speed assessment equipment detection devices. It defines such devices as a device one or more of whose purposes is to interfere with or detect the operation of equipment used to assess the speed of motor vehicles. The precise subset of the devices which will be prohibited will be identified in regulations.

The Government do not intend to prohibit the use of equipment which usefully gives drivers information on the location of published camera sites and does not detect or interfere with the operation of speed assessment equipment. Thus complementing the measures we took in 2001 to ensure that camera sites are visible and conspicuous to drivers, and so help deter excessive and inappropriate speeds on the roads.

The sole purpose of detection devices to be covered by the proposed law is to tell drivers when they can break speed limits and get away with it. This is unacceptable, prevents the police from carrying out their duties, and is a danger to other law-abiding drivers and road users.

There is overwhelming evidence from both UK and international literature that speeding results in more collisions and more severe casualties. As regards safety cameras, the evidence from the independent review of the safety camera programme by University College London and PA Consulting found that cameras significantly reduced the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites. This evidence demonstrates why the provisions of Clause 17 of the Bill would enhance road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding will be provided for rural bus services in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [200294]

Allocations from this Department to local authorities of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) will total £53 million in 2005–06. We have recently written to local authorities advising them of their individual allocations.

The provisional RBSG totals for 2006–07 and 2007–08 are £54.3 million and £55.6 million respectively.

In addition, expenditure on existing Rural Bus Challenge projects is estimated to total £38 million over the next three years.

Local authorities also support rural bus services using funds from their Revenue Support Grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes have been committed at stations that meet secure station status in each year since the scheme's inception. [202766]

The British Transport Police have provided the following information on crimes recorded at stations in the secure stations scheme, for any given year in the period 2000–04 when a station held accreditation. Data is not readily available for earlier than 2000.

In reading the above data, the following factors should be considered:

(i) These figures contain all crimes—this includes both notifiable and non-notifiable crimes. The latter includes byelaw offences, minor disorder etc.

(ii) The statistics represent full year data not data from the time of accreditation.

(iii) The data refers to crimes discovered and reported at the Station (i.e. not actually occurred at the station but in the surrounding area) as well as crimes committed on the station.

(iv) The new crime recording standards were implemented in 2002–03 and will have an adverse impact on crime statistics from that period.

(v) The period of accreditation lasts for two years. A number of listed stations have not applied for re-accreditation and therefore do not now fall under the secure station scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the refurbishment projects in his Department's premises that (a) are in progress and (b) will be starting in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal and sustainable sources; and whether guidance will be issued to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources. [201175]

In the central Department there is only one significant refurbishment project currently under way, or due to begin in the next six months, involving timber products and this is the replacement of furniture, stud partitioning and doors in Great Minster House. For the partitioning and furniture we will be using the call-off contracts managed by OGC which take account of Government polices on sustainable and legal timber. The doors will be modified and re-used.

More generally in the Department purchasers are reminded regularly of the requirement to purchase legal and sustainable timber and are provided with advice to assist them in purchasing sustainable timber, including the Office of Government Commerce Information Notes 9/2002 and 5/2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [200391]

The information is not collected centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [200411]

The Department was formed 29 May 2002, so the information in this answer only relates to the period from that date. We are not aware centrally of any financial penalties borne by the Department as a result of cancellation of work prepared by external suppliers.

To ask the Leader of the House in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers. [201707]

The Privy Council Office provides administrative support for my Office.

My Office does not have a policy of advertising in either the local or national media.

To ask the Leader of the House how many written questions for his Office 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. [201555]

Three.

The three questions were tabled in September 2004.

To ask the Leader of the House how many appeals were made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding special advisers in his Office between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 and when each appeal was lodged. [201376]

None.

To ask the Leader of the House

(1) if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004; [201423]

(2) if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Office's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [201448]

All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of "the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [200828]

My Department's commitment not to discriminate unfairly on the grounds of age is set out clearly in its equal opportunities policy.

The DfES aspires to be an exemplar equal opportunities employer, creating a workplace that values diversity, is free from any form of unfair discrimination including age, and where all staff have an equal opportunity to meet their aspirations, realise their full potential and improve their life chances.

My Department already allows its staff to remain in employment until the age of 65 and will be reviewing all of its HR policies and practices to take account of the introduction of legislation on age discrimination. My officials monitor the Department's progress to ensure that we are succeeding and will also ensure that all managers and staff are made aware of the new legislation and its implications for the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local authorities which applied for wave (a) 2 and (b) 3 of the Building Schools for the Future programme whose bids were not accepted for prioritisation; and if he will make a statement. [202291]

Building Schools for the Future is our long-term programme to provide 21st-century facilities for all secondary pupils. We invited local authorities to submit proposals for wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future and/or expressions of interest for the rest of the programme, including waves 2 and 3, All local authorities with secondary schools did so.

It is our ambition that, by 2011 and subject to public spending reviews, 60 per cent. of all authorities should have major rebuilding or remodelling projects (at least three schools), and that all the others will have the resources to tackle their secondary schools in greatest need (at least one school). By 2016, our ambition is that major rebuilding or remodelling projects (at least three schools) will have started in every authority. In 15 waves from 2005–06, we aim for every secondary school that needs it to be replaced or upgraded,

The following lists alphabetically local authorities that have expressed interest in being included In Building Schools for the Future and that win be prioritised from wave 4 onwards.

Barking and Dagenham

Barnet

Bath and North-east Somerset

Bedfordshire

Bexley

Blackburn with Darwen

Blackpool

Bolton

Bournemouth

Bracknell Forest

Brent

Brighton and Hove

Bromley

Buckinghamshire

Bury

Calderdale

Cambridgeshire

Camden

Cheshire

Cornwall

Coventry

Croydon

Cumbria

Darlington

Derby

Devon

Doncaster

Dorset

Dudley

Ealing

East Riding of Yorkshire

East Sussex

Enfield

Essex

Gloucestershire

Halton

Hammersmith and Fulham

Hampshire

Harrow

Hartlepool

Havering

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

Hillingdon

Hounslow

Isle of Wight

Isles of Scilly

Kensington and Chelsea

Kingston upon Thames

Kirklees

Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

Medway

Merton

Milton Keynes

Norfolk

Northamptonshire

North Somerset

North Tyneside

North Yorkshire

North-east Lincolnshire

Northumberland

Nottinghamshire

Oldham

Oxfordshire

Peterborough

Plymouth

Poole

Portsmouth

Reading

Redbridge

Redcar and Cleveland

Richmond upon Thames

Rochdale

Rotherham

Rutland

St. Helen's

Sefton

Shropshire

Slough

Somerset

South Gloucestershire

Southampton

Southend-on-Sea

Staffordshire

Stockport

Stockton on Tees

Suffolk

Surrey

Sutton

Swindon

Thurrock

Torbay

Telford and Wrekin

Trafford

Wakefield

Walsall

Wandsworth

Warrington

Warwickshire

West Berkshire

West Sussex

Wigan

Wiltshire

Windsor and Maidenhead

Wirral

Wokingham

Wolverhampton

Worcestershire

York

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the gender pay gap among staff in his Department. [200829]

My Department's equal pay analysis of 2002 pay identified no statistically significant variations in pay between genders and the minor differences identified were addressed in the three year pay deal 2003–2005.

My Department's gender analysis of the 2003 pay award identified no sign of any bias in the results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many extra 16 to 18-year-olds he expects to stay in education as a result of the education maintenance allowance in Cambridge. [201267]

Since the start of the academic year, as of 31 October 2004, 1,207 young people in the Cambridgeshire local authority area have received payments under the national EMA scheme. The number is increasing at a steady rate and we expect it to continue to do so. In 2004/05 across England we expect the number of 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education to increase by 35,000 (3.8 percentage points) as a direct result of EMA. By 2006/07, when EMA is available to all eligible 16 to 18-year-olds, an additional 72,000 young people will be in further education. If the same participation increase is applied to the east of England region an additional 7,900 16 to18-year-olds will be participating in further education by 2006/07. Estimates are not available at local authority level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills with which companies (a) producing and (b) distributing video games he has held discussions on financing educational facilities. [203119]

I have not held any meetings with companies(a) producing or (b) distributing video games in which we have discussed any specific proposals for financing educational facilities.

My Department maintains a working relationship with representatives from the games industry and is keen to find opportunities for collaboration, and ways of using games technologies to create innovative educational content.

As part of this overall approach, I hosted a discussion on 2 November 2004 for some of those involved in the video games industry, including relevant trade associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields have been sold in England and Wales in each of the last five years. [201649]

Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in England on 1 October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields that occurred in the 1980s and early to mid 1990s. As the legislation only applies to England, we have no records of how many school playing fields have been sold in Wales. The sale of school playing fields in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Applications to sell school playing fields are only approved where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve school sports provision or education facilities. All applications made since 16 July 2001 are scrutinised by the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel to make sure that they meet our published criteria. The Panel comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association.

The figures requested are shown in the following table. In 15 of these 109 applications new or replacement sports pitches of the same size or greater were to be bought from the proceeds. A further 41 applications involved land at closed or closing school sites and in 39 of the remaining 53 cases, the proceeds are to be used to improve sports facilities, such as new all-weather pitches, sports halls or improved grass sports pitches. In the remaining 12 cases, the proceeds are to provide better education facilities at schools, such as new classrooms and performing arts facilities.

Notes:

1. The table comprises applications from local authorities, foundation, voluntary and former grant-maintained schools to sell school playing fields capable of forming at least a small sports pitch.

2. All sale proceeds are to be used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.

3. "Sports pitch" means an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended 2,000m⁽⁴⁾ area for games played by under-10s and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to expand vocational education and training for adults in Cambridge. [201266]

The responsibility for local education and training provision rests with the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates since 1 January when he and his Ministers discussed with the Department for Constitutional Affairs the change in revenue that might occur if arrangements were not made immediately to approve an 80-year closure period for decennial population censuses for England and Wales; and what estimate he has made of the (a) gross and (b) net revenue in the next decade from the 1911 and 1921 censuses being released online as soon as practicable. [202018]

It is government policy that all decennial census returns should remain closed for 100 years. This is in order that public confidence continues to be maintained through the confidentiality assurances that are provided when citizens are required to complete their census forms.

It would be premature to consider what revenue might be raised from making the 1911 and 1921 censuses available online so far in advance of their release dates. There have been no meetings between Treasury and DCA Ministers on this matter and it would not be appropriate to prepare revenue estimates at this time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the departmental Efficiency Technical Notes (ETN) required by the report, "Releasing Resources to the Frontline—Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency", were submitted to (a) the National Audit Office and (b) the Audit Commission for scrutiny; on what date each first draft was submitted for scrutiny; how many submissions of subsequent drafts there were for each ETN, broken down by Department and on what dates each were submitted; on what date each was signed off by the (i) National Audit Office and (ii) Audit Commission; if he will make a statement on the nature of the outstanding concerns of the National Audit Office and the Audit Commission over those ETNs not yet signed off; and when he expects sign-off to be achieved. [203158]

The NAO and Audit Commission provided advice to central Government on draft ETNs submitted by Departments in September 2004, against agreed criteria—clarity of savings, measurement methods, data quality, service continuity, and readability. Departments subsequently published their ETNs at the end of October 2004. The NAO and Audit Commission will be asked to provide further scrutiny but have not been asked to sign off the content of ETNs. The scrutiny covered the main Departments of Government, namely Cabinet Office, Crown Prosecution Service, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Education and Skills, Department for International Development, Department for Transport, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department for Work and Pensions, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, HM Treasury, Ministry of Defence, Northern Ireland Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (for both main programmes and local government).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. [202489]

Information concerning ministerial cars in the financial year 2002–03 was given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 397–98W. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the cost of ministerial vehicles in 2003–04.

Expenditure on taxis is estimated to have been £163,000 in 2002–03 and £151,000 in 2003–04.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last two years. [202490]

Energy costs in 1 Horse Guards Road reduced by 15 per cent. over the last two years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [202491]

HM Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce, the Royal Mint, the Government Actuary's Department, the Debt Management Office, the Office for National Statistics and National Savings and Investments do not own any empty properties.

Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise and the Valuation Office Agency sold their freehold properties to Mapeley on 2 April 2001 as part of the STEPS PFI contract. Mapeley have assumed responsibility for these since then, irrespective of whether the properties are empty or occupied.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [202498]

The Treasury does not provide any crèche facilities. The Department is a member of the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which operates during school holidays and is open to children aged 4 years 9 months to 12. The Treasury has two bespoke playscheme rooms, which can cater for up to 18 children. The cost per child is £30 a day and the Treasury subsidises the costs by 60 per cent. The total subsidy to Treasury parents using the playscheme is £4,100.

The Treasury also supports the child care cost of eligible staff. Staff who work full time receive £40.00 per week per family, part timers receive a pro-rated amount.

85 staff members receive child care vouchers. The total cost of child care vouchers, since the scheme was introduced in January 2004 is £134,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many people over 65 were in employment in each metropolitan authority and county area in the North East region in each year from 1997 to 2004; [202680]

(2) how many and what percentage of 50 to 65-year-olds were economically inactive in (a) the North East region, and (b) each (i) metropolitan authority and (ii) county area within the North East region in each year from 1997 to 2003. [202681]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 8 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about employment and economic inactivity. (202680, 202681)

The attached table provides the information requested.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Economic activity in the North East region and each metropolitan authority and county area 12-month period ending in February each year— United Kingdom

⁽⁵⁾ Economically inactive refers to women aged 50 to 59 and men aged 50 to 64 who are neither employed nor unemployed.

⁽⁶⁾ The rates are based on people aged 50 to 64 who are economically inactive as percentage of total population in the relevant age group.

⁽⁷⁾ Refers to men aged 65 to 99 women aged 60 to 99.

⁽⁸⁾ Estimates not available because sample size is too small.

Note:

Some estimates are based on smaller sample sizes and are therefore subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution and, in particular, changes from year to year should not be used in isolation from the figures for a run of years.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate is of women in couples where the woman's partner (a) does not work and (b) does work. [203166]

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

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Willetts, dated 8 December 2004

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment. I am replying in his absence. (203166)

Among couples who were both of working age (i.e. men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59) the employment rates for the female partners were:(a) 42.3% for those whose male partner was not in employment; and (b) 79.4 % for those whose male partner was in employment.

These estimates come from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and apply to the three months ending May 2004. As with any statistical sample survey the LFS estimates are subject to sampling error.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what the total amount of relief from inheritance tax granted in respect of agricultural land in North Yorkshire was in each of the past five years; [203356]

(2) in how many cases relief from inheritance tax was granted in North Yorkshire in each of the past five years; [203357]

(3) if he will make a statement on the eligibility criteria for the granting of relief from inheritance tax. [203358]

Information on the number and value of assets relieved of inheritance tax in the UK is published in Table 12.2 of Inland Revenue Statistics 2004 at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/inheritance_tax/tablel2–2.xls/. A regional breakdown is not available.

The eligibility criteria for inheritance tax reliefs depend on the particular relief. Agricultural property relief is available for land (including qualifying farmhouses and cottages) which has been owned by the transferor, and occupied for farming, for at least seven years, or two years for owner occupiers. Inland Revenue booklet IHT17 gives more information and is available at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/leaflets/iht.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) G7 and (b) G21 countries need to support the International Finance Facility for it to be launched. [202669]

The number of donor countries needed depends on the size of the commitment individual countries are willing to make. Clearly, a critical mass of donors is needed to achieve the gains of scale and predictability.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often the MRSA virus was listed as a cause of death on a death certificate in the most recent period for which figures are available. [201518]

holding answer 2 December 2004

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Derek Wyatt, dated 8 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how often the MRSA virus was listed as a cause of death on a death certificate in the most recent period for which figures are available. (201518)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2002. The number of deaths in England and Wales in that year where the MRSA bacterium was mentioned anywhere on death certificates was 800. The method used for obtaining this figure was published in a report inHealth Statistics Quarterly in spring 2004. ¹

Internationally accepted guidance from the World Health Organisation on the completion of death certificates requires only those conditions that contribute to death to be recorded.

¹ Griffiths C, Lamagni TL, Crowcroft NS, Duckworth G and Rooney C (2004) Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 1993–2002. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 15–22.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) for what reason the Office for National Statistics did not supply sufficient data to the OECD for their 2003 PISA survey; and if he will make a statement; [203174]

(2) which official in his Department was responsible for collating data for the OECD PISA survey 2003. [203176]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 8 December 2004

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to two of your recent Parliamentary Questions on the 2003 PISA survey. (203174 and 203176)

PISA is a survey co-ordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which was conducted in 41 countries in 2003. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) conducted the survey in England and Wales on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in Northern Ireland on behalf of Department of Education, Northern Ireland. The survey in Scotland was conducted by the Scottish Centre for Research in Education on behalf of the Scottish Executive.

The survey involves a two-hour written assessment, as well as completion of a questionnaire by a representative sample of students aged 15. In the UK, PISA depends on the voluntary co-operation of both schools and students. Compared with other surveys conducted through schools, PISA is quite disruptive as it takes a long time to complete and is conducted in the Spring term when schools are preparing for examinations.

Minimum criteria for response rates are set by OECD, and the response rates in the UK, in particular in England, fell short of the required minimum. ONS conducted the survey according to current best practice and, with the DfES, made every effort to persuade schools to participate. In spite of this, the survey response rates fell short of the threshold set by the OECD.

As National Statistician, ultimately I am responsible for all work of the Office for National Statistics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) whether he has been informed of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in his Department since its implementation; [201347]

(2) how many appeals were made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding special advisers in his Department between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004; and when each appeal was lodged; [201371]

(3) how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [203479]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him today by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of collection of (a) national insurance, (b) income tax, (c) capital gains tax and (d) inheritance tax has been in each year since 1997. [203213]

The cost of collection is reported each year in the Inland Revenue's Annual Report. It is calculated by apportioning administrative expenditure between the main taxes and duties.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the tax credits computer system can (a) import data from and (b) export data to the income tax computer system. [201576]

The Inland Revenue is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act. It holds information for the purposes specified to the Data Protection Commissioner, and may use this information for any of them.

The Inland Revenue receives and uses information about tax credit claimants and tax payers from others, and may give information to others but only as the law permits to:

check the accuracy of information,

prevent or detect crime,

or protect public funds.

The Inland Revenue may check information they receive about claimants and taxpayers with what is already in their records. This can include information provided by customers as well as others such as other Government Departments and agencies and overseas tax authorities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in removing the administration of tax credits for employers; and when he expects to implement this change. [203167]

The Inland Revenue is consulting representatives of employers and other interested parties to ensure that the transition from employer payment of working tax credit to direct payment by the Inland Revenue proceeds smoothly for both employers and claimants. Once that consultation is complete, I shall announce the timetable for phasing out the payment of working tax credit by employers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what total expenditure on the working tax credit was in 2003–04, broken down between (a) the working tax credit itself and (b) the childcare tax credit; [203240]

(2) what total expenditure on the child tax credit was in 2003–04, broken down between (a) the family element, (b) the child element and (c) other elements; [203242]

(3) how much expenditure on (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit in 2003–04 was (i) offset for the purposes of public expenditure calculations payments of income tax and (ii) counted as public expenditure. [203268]

Expenditure on the child and working tax credits in the financial year 2003–04 appears in Note 3 to the Trust Statement in the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for that year.

On (i), expenditure on WTC includes £490 million paid to the main carer of the children for childcare as part of WTC. The total level of childcare support provided through the childcare element in 2003–04 is estimated to be over £700 million. This includes cases where this element increased the amount of child tax credit (CTC) paid.

On (ii), It is not possible to provide a split of total expenditure on CTC between the component elements. The amount of award payable is reduced for families whose incomes are above the threshold, and this reduction is applied to the total value of all elements taken together.

On (iii), reliable separate splits between CTC and WTC of the negative tax and payments of entitlement components of tax credits expenditure are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people living in the City of Edinburgh local authority area have had payment of their tax credits stopped because they failed to provide the Inland Revenue with updated information by the 30 September deadline. [203378]

This number is not known, and a reliable estimate could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken to answer calls made to the customer telephone number of the Tax Credit Office customer relations team in Preston is. [203379]

Tax credit customers phoning with a query or problem about their tax credits should ring the main Tax Credits Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (Great Britain) or 0845 603 2000 (Northern Ireland). These helplines are open seven days a week from 08:00 to 20:00.

The Tax Credit Office's customer relations team deals with formal customer complaints and has a phone number that its customers can ring if they have a query. There are five lines, which are staffed throughout normal office hours and handle around 100 calls a day. The Tax Credit Office does not have information about the average length of time taken to answer calls to the customer relations team's phone number.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many months' backlog there is for appeals concerning overpayment of (a) working family and (b) child tax credit; [203146]

(2) how many appeals concerning overpayment of working family tax credits have been successful this year. [203147]

holding answer 8 December 2004

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the analysis of the household survey data for 2003–04 to provide an estimate of families eligible for but not claiming child tax credit will be concluded. [200233]

Subject to ensuring the data and methodology are sufficiently robust, we expect the analysis to be completed towards the end of 2005–06.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children there were in workless households in each local authority in the Northern Way Initiative area in each year from 1998 to 2004; and what percentage of children these figures represent in each year. [202678]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 8 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about children in workless households. (202678)

Information on each local authority in the Northern Way Initiative area cannot be provided as the geographical borders of this have not been precisely identified.

The attached table gives the estimates of the number and the percentage of children who were living in workless households in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions for the three months ending in May each year from 1998 to 2004.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling error.

Children Living in Workless Households—Not seasonally adjusted^(9)(10)

⁽⁹⁾ Children refers to children under 16.

⁽¹⁰⁾ A workless household is a household with at least one person of working age (male aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59), and in which no one aged 16 or over is in employment.

⁽¹¹⁾ Figures have not been adjusted to include estimates for households with unknown economic activity.

⁽¹²⁾ Children in workless households as percentage of children in all working age households.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to (a) the IMF and (b) the World Bank concerning (i) debt write-off and (ii) a donor conference for Angola. [203129]