To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many deaths within the Greater London area alcohol was found to be a primary cause in each of the last five years. [203617]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 9 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for how many deaths within the Greater London area, alcohol was found to be a primary cause in each of the last five years. (203617)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. The attached table shows the numbers of deaths among residents of Greater London where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 1999 to 2003.

Alcohol-related deaths for Greater London, 1999 to 2003^(1)(2)(3)

⁽¹⁾ For the years 1999–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:

291—Alcoholic psychoses

303—Alcohol dependence syndrome

305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol

425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol

For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:

F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol

I42.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

K70—Alcoholic liver disease

K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver

X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol

The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:

Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 5–14.

⁽²⁾ Usual residents of the London Government Office Region.

⁽³⁾ Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the use of ATM machines. [203423]

Treasury Ministers regularly receive representations and discuss a wide variety of issues concerning the financial services industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 1 December 2004, Official Report, column 650, if he will explain the difference between the figures given for the special reserve provision in that statement, in table C13 of the 2004 Budget (HC 701, 2003–04) and in table B18 of the pre-Budget report (CM 6408, 2004–05). [203655]

The difference between the £0.3 billion special reserve in the 2004 Budget and the £0.7 billion published in the 2004 pre-Budget report comprises two elements: the increase in the special reserve announced in the pre-Budget report; and allocations made from it so far in 2004–05 related to the costs of the military conflict in Iraq and the Government's international obligations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has reviewed the Gateway process following analysis of failures in the Child Support Agency system and process change programme; and if he will make a statement. [202902]

There has been no re-examination of the OGC Gateway Review Process as a direct result of the Child Support Agency system and process change programme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what visits he has made to the African continent (a) as Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) as part of his work as a member of the Commission for Africa; and what visits he plans to make to the African continent as part of his work as a member of the Commission for Africa. [199720]

holding answer 29 November 2004

The Chancellor, when he attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting, visited South Africa in 1997, and meets regularly with his fellow Ministers engaged in the economic tranche of the Africa Commission's work, most recently in Ottawa in October and Berlin last month. The Chancellor is planning to visit Africa in January 2005 and this visit will include taking forward the work he is engaged in as a member of the Commission for Africa.

2005 will be a critical year for making progress on the UN's Millennium Development Goals. The Commission for Africa will take a fresh look at Africa's past and present, and the international community's role, in order to agree clear recommendations for the future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what criteria are used by his Department to determine (a) on which satellite television stations advertisements on behalf of his Department or its agencies are screened and (b) the frequency of screenings of advertisements; [201313]

(2) how many television advertisements his Department has commissioned on (a) terrestrial and (b) satellite television channels in the last 12 months; and what the cost was in each case. [201314]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to the hon. Members for Wealden (Charles Hendry) and Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on 16 November 2004, Official Report, column 1262W. The position remains unchanged in the last 12 months.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last two years. [202487]

The Treasury's aggregate costs for services from the top 10 accountancy firms were £741,000 in 2002–03 and £304,000 in 2003–04, excluding VAT. These include charges for consultancy and secondees.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much EU funding to date has not been signed off by the Court of Auditors; and what the UK's share of this funding is. [204073]

The European Court of Auditors has always given a positive Statement of Assurance for all revenue, all commitments and—within the payments budget—for administrative payments. The other payments which did not gain a positive Statement of Assurance make up around 95 per cent. of the payments budget, comprising mainly agriculture and structural fund payments. The exception to this was 2002, when pre-accession aid also gained a positive Statement of Assurance, reducing the proportion of the budget which did not to 91 per cent. The UK contributes to the whole EC budget and not to individual spending policies. Details of the UK's contribution can be found in the annual Statement on the EC Budget, the most recent of which was Cm 6134, published in April 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy is of (a) men and (b) women living in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement. [203630]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 9 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the life expectancy is of(a) men and (b) women living in the Greater London area. (203630)

The most recent available figures are for the three-year period, 2001–2003. Life expectancy at birth for residents of Greater London in that period was 76.0 years for males and 80.8 years for females.

Life expectancy at birth results for this and other Government Office Regions in England, for three-year moving averages from 1991–1993 to 2001–2003, have been published on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Productasp?vlnk=8841

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what plans he has to publish indicators of employment of workers aged 50 to 69 years; [203571]

(2) what plans he has to publish indicators of employment levels of all adults, including those over state pension age; [203572]

(3) what plans he has to publish indicators of employment levels of workers of all ages over 50 years; [203573]

(4) what plans he has to revise the term working age adult when describing adults aged below the state pension age. [203574]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Vera Baird, dated 9 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the publication of employment statistics by age. (203571, 203572, 203573 and 203574)

The Labour Market Statistics national and regional First Releases, published monthly by the Office for National Statistics, contain analyses of employment by age, based upon the Labour Force Survey. These include estimates for people of working age, currently 16 to 64 for men and 16 to 59 for women; those over retirement age, and those aged 50 to retirement age.

Estimates of employment for other age groups, for example 50 to 69, are available from publicly available data records, which can be used to produce tables such as that attached.

At present there are no plans to change the terminology used to describe employment statistics for persons below State Pension age.

Employment in the United Kingdom: three months endingAugust 2004 -- Not seasonally adjusted

⁽⁴⁾ Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a property purchased via right to buy is charged stamp duty on the selling price (a) net of discount and (b) before the discount is applied. [203551]

Stamp duty land tax, which replaced stamp duty on 1 December 2003 for land transaction, is charged on the selling price net of discount.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 departmental special advisers travelled (a) domestically and (b) abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [202248]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total travel costs to his Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials for each year since 1997. [203782]

In respect of total travel costs and Ministers' travel costs, I refer to the answers given by the former Financial Secretary on 19 July 2004, Official Report, column 43–4W and 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 482–83W.

Between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 the Chancellor of the Exchequer's and Chief Secretary's special advisers travelled abroad on official business on 12 occasions at an average cost of £3,793 per trip. The places visited were: USA on 11–14 April 2003, 20–24 July 2003; 15–18 September 2003 (X2), 28–30 August 2003; 4–6 February 2004; Paris on 16–18 May 2003; Dubai on 19–22 September 2003; South Africa on 4–7 October 2003; Mexico on 25–28 October 2003; Beijing on 21–24 February 2004; Germany on 3–4 March 2004.

Equivalent information about special advisers' domestic travel for this period, or about special advisers' total travel costs in the years prior to 2003–04, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Management Code" and the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people received the working tax credit and its predecessor tax credits in each year since 2001. [203591]

Child and working tax credit were introduced in April 2003. Estimates of the number of recipient families are available in the published quarterly and summary statistic.

Working families' and disabled person's tax credits were available from October 1999 to March 2003. Estimates of the number of recipient families appear in the published Quarterly Enquiries. These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Children's tax credit was available in 2001–02 and 2002–03. An estimated 3.8 million families benefited in 2001–02. No estimate for 2002–03 is yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales

(1) whether he has been informed of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in his Department since its implementation; [201348]

(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. [201375]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on Tuesday 8 December 2004 (Col 578W).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997. [203963]

The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999.

Since then, Special Advisers have given no such instructions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total travel costs to his Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) Special Advisers and (c) Officials for each year since 1997. [203780]

The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden on 7 July 2004, Official Report, column 196W and the hon. Member for Twickenham on 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 257W.

Special Adviser travels costs for the Wales Office are not recorded separately from those of Ministers and Officials.

All ministerial official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the parliamentary Libraries.

All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the Solicitor General what the average length of time between the date of report of crime and submission of final police report to the Director of Public Prosecutions was in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the average length of time taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to deal with cases from first report to laying of formal charges was in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) Crown court cases and (ii) Petty Sessions cases. [202761]

The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland keeps records of the period from receipt of the police file to issue of direction. The average time taken is shown in the following table but excludes time spent on interim direction (time taken by the police to provide further necessary information sought by the Director):

Average Days

Figures are not available for the full five-year period requested because of a change in recording practice in 2001. The figures for 2004–05 are provisional.

The Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland is currently running two Public Prosecution Service Pilot Schemes. The figures for the two pilots are not included in the table as they are compiled differently.

Average days

The figures for the Pilots include time spent on interim directions. All figures in this table are provisional.

The Belfast PPS Pilot Scheme commenced 1 December 2003 and covers all offences committed in South Belfast PSNI District Command Unit and all youth offences committed in the Greater Belfast area.

The Fermanagh and Tyrone PPS Pilot Scheme commenced 1 April 2004 and covers all offences committed in Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Omagh and Strabane District Command Units.

All figures shown relate solely to files received from PSNI.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Department plans to take to tackle age discrimination to provide older people with the same job opportunities as younger people. [202994]

The Government are committed to tackling age discrimination in employment and extending opportunities for older workers. Legislation will come into force to outlaw unfair discrimination on the grounds of age in employment and vocational training in 2006. We are currently developing proposals for draft legislation. This will cover both direct and indirect discrimination and will apply to all those in or seeking employment or vocational training and not just those aged 50 and over.

In the meantime, our Age Positive campaign is combating age discrimination in the workplace. Age Positive is vigorously promoting the business benefits of an age diverse workforce by encouraging employers in both the public and private sector to adopt the good employment practices promoted through "Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide for Business." Age Positive Scotland and Age Positive Cymru are specifically engaging with employers in those countries.

The Age Positive campaign is promoted to employers and individuals through advertising, the website and press features in national, local and specialist publications. It features existing good practice by employer champions, research, and strongly promotes to employers at exhibitions and workshops. Age Positive awards help to widely publicise the achievements of businesses and individuals who overcome ageism in employment.

Budget 2004 announced a new high profile national guidance campaign to raise employers' awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities in order to increase the recruitment, retention and training of older workers.

The results from projects in England, Scotland and Wales to encourage small and medium sized employers to adopt age positive employment practices will ensure that the national guidance campaign meets the specific needs of small and medium size employers.

Between 2004 and 2006 we are running pilot studies to trial mandatory participation in the New Deal 25 plus Intensive Activity Period for people aged 50 to 59 who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for 18 months. Long-term unemployed jobseekers aged 25 to 49 are already required to participate in this element of the programme which offers extensive help back into work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [202440]

The Department for Work and Pensions, aims to reply to all correspondence within 20 working days of receipt.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of those qualifying for the state pension have been refused carers allowance, broken down by reason for refusal, in each of the last three years. [202269]

The question cannot be answered directly because the reason why people are refused carer's allowance is not broken down by age. Such information that is available is in the following table.

Carer's Allowance: Claims made by people of state pension age in each year 2001–02 to 2003–04

⁽⁵⁾ CA is paid to people of State Pension age where there is no entitlement to State Pension or where State Pension is paid at a lower rate than CA. If a low State Pension is paid, a reduced rate of CA will be paid as a top-up.

⁽⁶⁾ Figures for State Pension as at 31 March in 2002, 2003, 2004.

⁽⁷⁾ Figures are as at 30 June 2002.

⁽⁸⁾ Figures are as at 31 May 2003.

⁽⁹⁾ Figures are as at 3 May 2004.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

2. From October 2002, the upper age limit was increased to allow over 65's to claim.

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for disability living allowance in 2003–04 taken to appeal were (a) refused on appeal and (b) granted on appeal; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis, or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis, as the principal disabling condition. [202820]

This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member. Christina Townsend, Chief Executive 5th Floor

Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Tom Harris, dated 9 December 2004

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many applications for disability living allowance in 2003 2004 taken to appeal were(a) refused on appeal and (b) granted on appeal; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition.

The information requested is not available in the required format as appeals are recorded by benefit type and not by condition. However, Disability and Carers Service, the agency responsible for decision-making on disability living allowance claims, do record claims by condition. The category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis is recorded as chronic fatigue syndrome. The information in table 1 gives details of all claims for disability living allowance and claims citing chronic fatigue syndrome as the principal disabling condition. Table 2 shows the number of disability living allowance appeals received and the outcomes.

Table 1: All disability living allowance and chronic fatigue syndrome recipients as at 29 February 2004

Notes:

1. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.

2. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 29 February 2004.

3. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.

Information relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis is not available within the DLA data available from the Appeals Service databases.

Table 2: DLA Appeals received at the Appeals Serviceand decisions at hearing for the financial yearApril 2003 to March 2004.

Notes:

1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.

2. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

4. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Lodged—Number of Lodgements received at the First Tier Agency

Received—Number of Receipts at the Appeals Service

Cleared at Hearing—All Appeals cleared at hearing.

Cleared in Favour—All decisions found in favour of the appellant

Cleared Against—All decisions against the appellant

Cleared Upheld—The original decision remains

Cleared Others—Other decisions such as Strike outs, Revised periods.

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many refusals of disability living allowance in 2003–04 on review were (a) taken to appeal and (b) taken no further; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis, or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis, as the principal disabling condition. [202821]

This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Tom Harris, dated 9 December 2004

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many refusals of disability living allowance in 2003/2004 on review were(a) taken to appeal and (b) taken no further; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition.

The information requested is not available in the required format as appeals and reviews are recorded by benefit type and not by condition. However, Disability and Carers Service, the agency responsible for decision-making on disability living allowance claims, do record claims by condition. The category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis is recorded as chronic fatigue syndrome. The information in table 1 gives details of all claims for disability living allowance and claims citing chronic fatigue syndrome as the principal disabling condition. Table 2 details the number of disability living allowance reviews registered and the outcomes. Table 3 shows the number of disability living allowance appeals received together with the outcomes.

Table 1: All disability living allowance and chronic fatigue syndrome recipients as at 29 February 2004

Notes:

1. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.

2. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 29 February 2004

3. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.

Information relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis is not available within the DLA data available from the Appeals Service databases.

Table 2: disability living allowance reviews registered, allowed and disallowed for the financial year 2003–04

Note:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Source:

MIS Computer System, 100 per cent. data.

Table 3: DLA Appeals received at the Appeals Serviceand decisions at hearing for the financial yearApril 2003 to March 2004

Notes:

1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.

2. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

4. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Lodged—Number of Lodgements received at the First Tier Agency.

Received—Number of Receipts at the Appeals Service.

Cleared at Hearing—All Appeals cleared at hearing.

Cleared in Favour—All decisions found in favour of the appellant.

Cleared Against—All decisions against the appellant.

Cleared Upheld—The original decision remains.

Cleared Others—Other decisions such as Strike outs, Revised periods.

Source:

I AD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

I hope this reply is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) how many of those cases taken to review for disability living allowance in 2003–04 (a) were refused on review and (b) were granted on review; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition; [202822]

(2) how many of those cases refused disability living allowance on application in 2003–04 (a) were taken to review, (b) were taken to appeal without prior review and (c) were taken no further; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition; [202823]

(3) how many claims were lodged for disability living allowance in 2003–04; and how many cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition; [202824]

(4) how many of the total claims lodged for disability living allowance in 2003–04 (a) were refused on application and (b) were granted on application; and how many in each category cited myalgic encephalomyelitis or the category most closely approximating to myalgic encephalomyelitis as the principal disabling condition. [202825]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out as follows.

Disability living allowance (DLA) 2003–04

⁽¹⁰⁾ The figures for all claims are taken from the MIS computer system, 100 per cent. data for year ended 31 March 2004. Figures are in thousands rounded to the nearest 5.

⁽¹¹⁾ Figures for new awards for chronic fatigue syndromes, including ME/post viral medical conditions, are taken from a 5 per cent. sample for year ended 31 May 2004. Figures are in thousands rounded to the nearest 100.

Notes:

1. From November 2002, the methodology for producing the figures for all claims was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.

2. Claims received in one year are not necessarily cleared in the same year.

3. The number of claims reconsidered include applicants who received an award at a lower rate and/or for a shorter duration.

4. The figure for appeals received at the Appeals Service cannot be broken down by appeals without prior reconsideration and those that were received after reconsideration.

5. Medical conditions are not recorded on the MIS system and only a total figure can be provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost was of (a) an in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by his Department in each of the last two years. [202437]

Subsidies of various sizes for canteen facilities are provided in around 160 of our 1,800 offices. The cost to the Department for the year 2002–03 was £3.5 million and for the year 2003–04 was £3.7 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the estimates that he has made of the cost of providing full compensation for lost occupational pension rights among those workers whose schemes wound up before the introduction of the Pension Protection Fund. [203569]

The Government has not made estimates of the costs of providing full compensation for lost occupational pension rights among those workers whose schemes wound up before the introduction of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how many workers who lost occupational pension rights owing to scheme wind-up the insolvency event was (a) between January and March 1997, (b) between April 1997 and March 2004 and (c) between April 2004 and March 2005. [203576]

The dates for eligibility for the Financial Assistance Scheme—as mentioned in my written ministerial statement issued on 2 December 2004, —relate to the dates that schemes start to wind up. Issues concerning definitions of "employer insolvency", including the dates of any insolvency events and their timing in relation to the scheme wind up date, remain under consideration. The interactions of wind up dates and employer insolvency events are complex: for example, an employer may have more than one insolvency event, and the scheme may start to wind up sometime before or after the employer's initial insolvency event. Furthermore, there is no central source of data which identifies both scheme wind up dates and any insolvency events the employer connected to the scheme might have. Therefore it is not possible to answer the question in the form requested.Official Report, columns 64–66WS

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is his policy that the administrative costs to his Department of developing and operating the Financial Assistance Scheme will be met outwith the £400 million which has been allocated to meet the costs of the scheme. [203577]

The costs of operating the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) are still being assessed. The current policy and project development costs of FAS are being funded from departmental resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the relevant populations of (a) men and (b) women in (i) the Scottish Borders, (ii) Scotland and (ii) Great Britain are entitled to the full basic state pension. [202535]

The information requested is in the following table:

Notes:

1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.

2. Data is rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

3. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.

4. The relevant population refers to all males aged 65 and above and females aged 60 and above living in the specified areas.

5. A full basic State Pension (£77.45 in 2003–04) is paid to those who fully satisfy the contribution conditions either in their own right or where applicable, on the basis of their late or former spouse's contributions.

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent, sample as at 31 March 2004

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in each of the last two years. [202329]

The cost of external accountancy services to the Department was £659,624.01 in 2002–03 and £495,193.40 in 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the trend in the number of people participating in boxing over the last five years. [202295]

According to the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAofE) records, the total number of registered boxers in England over the past five years was as follows:

There is no firm statistical data currently available on the number of people who are either active "social' members of boxing clubs (but not boxing competitively) or who box as part of their fitness training activities—nor do we have an indication of the trend over the past five tears. At present, the ABAofE estimates this to be in the region of 30,000 upwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to change the (a) membership and (b) constitution of the British Board of Film Classification; and if she will make a statement. [202297]

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is independent of government and is responsible for its own membership and constitution. The Government recognise the importance of preserving the independence of the BBFC and has no plans to intervene on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last two years giving the (i) title, (ii) purpose, (iii) date and (iv) cost of each. [202347]

Only press conferences and exhibitions are organised centrally and they are held internally, with no cost attached. Conferences, seminars, and workshops are organised and paid for (sometimes jointly and sometimes exclusively) by policy divisions across the Department. They are held both in-house and on non-departmental premises. The information relating to the title, purpose, date and cost of each could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total external spending by her Department was on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement. [202338]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not itself incurred any costs on PFI consultants over the last two years.

The Royal Parks Agency, which is an Executive Agency, has employed consultants to advise on PFI schemes. Their total external spend on PFI consultants in 2003–04 was £95,035, and from 1 April 2004 to date they have incurred costs of £89,329. The Royal Parks Agency used six consultancy firms. The information relating to the number of full-time equivalent consultants, billed consultancy days and the implied average cost of each consultant could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last two years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each. [202344]

The information requested is as follows for my Department:

7 April 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No 752/93 laying down the provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods.(a) Commission Regulation (EC) No 656/2004 of

Purpose: to amend the application form (under EU law) for an export licence for cultural goods.

(b) We do not have information on the cost to public funds of this regulation, and such information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

(c) Cost to businesses: nil.

In addition, I should mention the following:

7 March 2002 on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities (Access Directive); Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive); Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive); and Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive).(a) Directive 2002/19/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of

The purpose of these directives was to set a new community-wide framework for regulation in respect of electronic communications networks and services, including the removal of the requirement for licensing of telecommunications systems.

(b) We do not have information on the cost to public funds of these directives, and such information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

(c) These Directives were implemented by way of the Communications Act 2003, for which DTI and DCMS were jointly responsible and for which a regulatory impact assessment was undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act. [203340]

There has been no change to Departmental Records Management policy since the passage of the Act and categories of files and their numbering system will continue. It has never been the policy of the Department to retain representative examples from files of categories destroyed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years. [203341]

The table sets out the number of files that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have destroyed in the past five years

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes have been promulgated in each of the past five years to the guidelines or other criteria for the retention or destruction of departmental files. [203342]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not changed its policy regarding retention and destruction of Departmental files over the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what effect the Treasury's requirement for efficiency savings at English Heritage will have on that body's work in the next three years. [203117]

As a result of its efficiency programme, English Heritage will save up to £14.2 million over the next three years. This will be invested in front line services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was for the use of external consultants in each of the last two years. [202346]

The total cost to the Department of using external consultants was £469,480.60 in 2002–03 and £473,785.35 in 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners aged over 75 years living in (a) North Southwark and Bermondsey constituency and (b) the London borough of Southwark are (i) entitled to a free television licence and (ii) receiving a free television licence. [203396]

holding answer 8 December 2004

TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. It is not therefore possible to estimate take-up of the concession on a local basis. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the North Southwark and Bermondsey constituency in 2003–04 was 3,995, according to Department for Work and Pensions records. The number of such households in the London borough of Southwark was 8,930.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the cost of exempting student-only houses from paying the television licence fee. [202567]

It is not possible to estimate the cost of providing television licence fee concessions for all student-only households, because TV licensing's records do not distinguish between student and other households and information on student numbers is not held in such a way as to enable the number of student-only households to be calculated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost is to the Exchequer of the free television licence for those over 75 years; and what would be the cost of offering a free television licence to all those in receipt of pension credit only. [202944]

The cost of providing free television licences to people aged 75 or over in 2003–04 was £408 million. The cost of providing free television licences to all households in receipt of pension credit would be in the region of £310 million a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to her Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if she will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it. [200615]

In compliance with Government guidance, DCMS is committed to the payment of all invoices within agreed contractual provision or within 30 days of presentation of a valid invoice. The current target for payment of invoices is that 100 per cent. of invoices are paid in time, including disputed invoices once disputes have been settled.

For the period November 2003 to October 2004, the Department paid 99.3 per cent. of valid invoices on time, the average number of days between receipt of invoices and payment being 10.2. Information regarding average length time between the date of invoices from suppliers and payment by the Department is not held on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Two invoices (0.03 per cent.) were paid after 90 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has for funding (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic athletes up to 2008. [202740]

We plan to at least maintain the previous level of investment for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic cycle. This will result in approximately £98 million being available to support summer and winter Olympians and Paralympians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [201546]

All written questions tabled to DCMS received a reply in the 2003–04 parliamentary session.

Seven written questions received the following answer on the final day of the session:

"It has not proved possible to respond to my (right) hon. Friend/the (right) hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation."

Six of these questions were tabled between 2–16 November, and the other was tabled on 28 October.

At all times DCMS Ministers make every effort to answer written questions substantively before Prorogation. However, this is not always possible. Where right hon. and hon. Members did not receive a substantive response it is open to them to re-table their question this session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what target her Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by her Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04. [202555]

DCMS aims to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their Named Day question on the named day and endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but the Department for Culture, Media and Sport makes every effort to achieve these timescales.

The percentage of answers that failed to meet these targets in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04 is in the table.

Percentage

⁽¹²⁾ Figures for parliamentary session 1997–98 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total external spending by her Department was on public-private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement. [202348]

DCMS has not been involved in any public-private partnerships and has not needed consultancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [203464]

There have been no complaints made by civil servants at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to limit the increase in licensing fees for sports and community clubs under the Licensing Act 2004. [203704]

Fees will be limited to full recovery by licensing authorities of their costs of administration, inspection and enforcement under the terms of the Licensing Act 2003. We are currently undertaking a consultation on the fee levels, which ends on 23 December 2004. We welcome the views of sports and community clubs as part of that consultation. All responses will be carefully considered before the fees are finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance she is giving the Amateur Swimming Association to meet the costs of training swimming coaches. [203705]

The Amateur Swimming Association's coaching qualifications are recognised on the National Qualifications Framework. This means that approved centres offering swimming coaching training can draw down mainstream funding through the Learning and Skills Council, to support training delivery. Swimming is one of the sports taking forward the UK Coaching Certificate. As such, the Amateur Swimming Association has been allocated funding for three years from 2004–05 by UK Sport to develop its coach education systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what assessment has been made by the Arts Council West Midlands of the staging of innovative performances at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre since its opening; and if she will make a statement; [203347]

(2) what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the arts in Staffordshire of the Arts Council's publication, "A vision for the arts in the West Midlands 2003–06"; and if she will make a statement; [203348]

(3) what assessment she has made of funding for the arts in Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement; [203349]

(4) if she will make a statement on the Arts Council West Midlands policy regarding support for theatres owned by local authorities; and if she will make a statement; [203350]

(5) how many times representatives of the Arts Council West Midlands have visited the Lichfield Garrick Theatre since 1 July 2003; [203351]

(6) what her Department's policy is towards the support of innovative art in the West Midlands; and if she will make a statement; [203353]

(7) what support has been given to the staging of new theatrical art in Staffordshire by the Arts Council West Midlands; and if she will make a statement; [203354]

(8) what support has been given in funding to theatres in Staffordshire by the Arts Council West Midlands since 1 July 2003. [203352]

Arts Council England (ACE) operates at arms-length from the Government. It delegates monies to the Regional Arts Councils which allocate funds in accordance with the strategic priorities of the Department and ACE.

Records relating specifically to grants for either new theatrical art or innovative art are not held by ACE. The £30,000 grant awarded by ACE to the Lichfield Garrick Theatre was for the production of new pieces of work to celebrate its opening. During 2004–05 the Lichfield Garrick became a regularly funded organisation (RFO) of ACE and is in receipt of £30,780. It is due to receive the same next year with subsequent funding to be decided following confirmation of ACE's future funding allocation. Since 1 July 2003, four official visits have been made by ACE to the Garrick Theatre.

Funding information is not collected for individual counties, neither has ACE a specific policy regarding support for theatres owned by local authorities. However, funding to theatres in Staffordshire has totalled £113,390 since 1 July 2003.

ACE's annual review for 2004, placed in the Library of both Houses, reports on its activity during both years including activity in the West Midlands.

To ask the Leader of the House what restrictions exist in UK law on the participation of hon. Members in the legislative chambers of foreign countries. [203701]

A member of the legislature of any country or territory outside the Commonwealth (other than Ireland) is disqualified from membership of the House of Commons under section 1(1)(e) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, as amended by section 1 of the Disqualifications Act 2000. There is no restriction in UK law on the participation of hon. Members in the legislative chambers of foreign countries, while not member of that legislature.

To ask the Leader of the House how many Government amendments were accepted in the House of Lords in the last session. [202298]

Statistics for session 2003–04 under preparation in the House of Lords suggest that 2,915 Government amendments were made to Government Bills in the House of Lords last Session. This does not include amendments made on Consideration of Commons Amendments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many motor vehicles have been abandoned in Greater London in each of the last three years. [202729]

Statistics for abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed were first compiled in the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey for 2000–01. Results for authorities in London are available for 2000–01 and 2001–02. Results for 2002–03 are supplemented by results from the Defra Abandoned Vehicle Survey 2002–03.

Numbers of abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed by each London Borough and Waste Collection Authority are listed as follows:

⁽¹³⁾ for 2001–02 =GLA estimate

n/a = results not available

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [202361]

The Department is fully committed to equality on the basis of age. One of the stated values of the Department is that we create an environment for our employees and customers, free from discrimination on the grounds of age.

In anticipation of the Age Legislation in October 2006, the Department has identified policies and procedures where the legislation will have an impact and the Department is working to ensure that all areas of its work is fully reviewed for any age bias.

The Department has already introduced flexibility around the retirement age that enables older staff to stay on until 65. In addition diversity training, which is available to all Defra employees, includes raising awareness of age discrimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) resource budget, (b) staff numbers and (c) running costs were of the Carbon Trust in 2003–04. [202141]

The Carbon Trust, as a private company, publishes annual accounts containing the information you have requested. The report for 2003–04 can be accessed via www.thecarbontrust.co.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on collaboration between the Carbon Trust and the Clean Energy Group. [202143]

The Carbon Trust takes a strong interest in international low carbon programmes and investment initiatives. The Trust keeps in close touch with a number of agencies, including the Clean Energy Group and other US organisations, to exchange best practice in how low carbon technologies can best be developed and brought to market more quickly. The Carbon Trust is a private company funded by Defra and the Devolved administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the United Kingdom will ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. [202068]

The UK ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 19 November 2003 and it entered into force in the UK on 17 February 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost. [202360]

Defra currently makes the following childcare provisions:

Workplace Provisions

We have on on-site workplace nurseries at five of our sites, Kings Pool in York, CSL Sand Mutton, Guildford, London and Bristol. Defra in Exeter has recently closed and with it the childcare provision.

We have the following partnership arrangements providing workplace provision in London, Bristol and elsewhere through such providers as Buffer Bear, Childcare Enterprise; Frendz club.

Childcare Vouchers and Payment to a Third Party

This does not apply in Defra and we operate neither scheme.

Salary Sacrifice Scheme

This is due to start between January and April 2005.

Defra provide 150 full-time subsidised nursery places across the five sites mentioned above. The actual number using the nursery is higher than this figure due to many of the places being allocated on a part time basis. The cost of nursery places and the amount of subsidy varies for each location.

The places are allocated as follows:

School holiday playschemes places are available to departmental and agency staff across eight sites. The number of users varies at each site and for each school holiday period. These are: London, York, Bristol, Guildford, Nottingham, Taunton, Weybridge and Worcester.

The overall budget for childcare provision is currently £88,500 for York and London. Other sites are funded from local budgets.

We are aiming to review current fees and subsidies in 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last two years. [202357]

The occurrence of criminal damage to the Department's buildings over the past two years has been so low that separate records have not been kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [202350]

Defra estimates its expenditure over the last two years on the following activities to have been:

£

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by her Department in each of the last two years. [202354]

Refurbishment work carried out on the Defra estate in the last 2 years was estimated to cost:

£

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [202356]

From information held centrally, the cost of running the Department's canteen facilities in financial year 2002–03 was £432,328 and in financial year 2003–04 the cost was £453,490.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the total amount of (a) carbon dioxide and (b) greenhouse gas emissions per person in the United Kingdom, broken down by (i) emissions produced within the UK, (ii) emissions including those produced in other countries for goods exported into the UK, (iii) emissions including those produced in other countries for goods exported into the UK but excluding goods exported from the UK and (iv) international aviation relating to UK activities. [202067]

(i) In 2002, the most recent year for which data are available, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) in the UK were 551.0 million tonnes, and emissions of total greenhouse gases, weighted together using global warming potentials, were equivalent to 648.4 million tonnes CO ₂ . The population of the UK was just over 59 million in 2002, making the average emissions on a per person basis for CO ₂ 9.30 tonnes and 10.95 tonnes CO ₂ equivalent for total greenhouse gases.

(ii & iii) Under internationally agreed guidelines, carbon dioxide and total greenhouse emissions associated with the production of goods are reported in the greenhouse gas inventory of the country in which the goods are produced. Emissions from goods exported from the UK are not separately estimated.

(iv) Emissions associated with international air transport appear in national greenhouse gas inventories as a memo item and are not included in national totals. Total UK emissions of CO₂ from international aviation were estimated to be 26.9 million tonnes of CO ₂ in 2002, and emissions of total greenhouse gases were estimated to be 27.3 million tonnes of CO ₂ . Emissions per passenger are not estimated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last two years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each. [202364]

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on the environment, agriculture, fisheries, animal and plant health.

In answer to part(a) , the table shows all Directives agreed in the UK in the years 2002 and 2003, for which Defra took the lead, and which have since been implemented in the UK. Regulations have a direct effect in the laws of member states and do not usually require Governments to take action to implement them. The table does not show Regulations, as this information is not held centrally and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. Details of all Directives and Regulations in force can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website.

The Department does not hold information in the form requested in part(b) . This information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

For part(c) , Departments are required to produce regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) for proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. Copies of these are placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to ensure market stability after the reform of the EU Sugar Regime. [201882]

The European Commission has still to make detailed proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime. In setting out its preferred approach, the Commission has stressed the need for a sustainable long term policy perspective, including greater market orientation and improved competitiveness. The July 2004 Communication to the Council set out a range of measures intended to provide for a stable future. The Government have welcomed these ideas as an important step in the right direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the reform of the EU Sugar Regime on the (a) number of UK sugar beet producers and (b) sugar price. [201883]

The European Commission has still to make detailed proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime. When putting forward options for political debate in September 2003, the Commission published a summary of impact assessment work and has since released additional analysis to support the preferred approach set out in its July 2004 Communication. The Government have commented on this in the Explanatory Memoranda submitted for scrutiny proposes and has also published the results of independent research commissioned by Defra into the economic, social and environmental implications of sugar reform. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment will be prepared once formal proposals are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to protect the interests of UK sugar producers in the reform of the EU Sugar Regime. [201884]

The Government's aim is to secure a more economically rational and market-based sugar regime consistent with our international trade and development obligations and our wider sustainability objectives. A sugar reform which meets these conditions ought to be to the advantage of everyone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to ensure that there will be competitive prices following the reform of the EU Sugar Regime. [201885]

The European Commission has still to make detailed proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime. Its July 2004 Communication calls for a significant reduction in institutional price support, including the replacement of intervention by a new reference price system. The Commission has also highlighted the need for greater market orientation and improved competitiveness. The Government have welcomed these ideas as a important step in the right direction, but will need to consider the position further once formal proposals are available and negotiations begin.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there will be a sugar quota cut for the UK following the reform of the EU Sugar Regime. [201886]

The European Commission has still to make detailed proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime. Its July 2004 Communication calls for simplification of the present quota system by merging the A and B quotas into a single quota and for a reduction in the resulting total quota level in order to reach a sustainable balance on the EU sugar market. This approach, if adopted by the Council of Ministers, would result in a quota cut for all sugar producing member states, including the UK.

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

(1) whether the Government are supporting beet-specific compensation following the reform of the EU Sugar Regime; and if she will make a statement; [201887]

(2) whether the Government are supporting mandatory decoupled compensation in the reform of the EU Sugar Regime. [201888]

The European Commission has still to make detailed proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime. Its July 2004 Communication envisages the introduction of partial compensation for producers in the form of a direct decoupled payment, with the same historical reference period and integrated into the single farm payment scheme resulting from the June 2003 Common Agricultural Policy reforms. The Government have supported this general approach, but will need to consider the position further once formal proposals are available and negotiations being.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of historical links between GDP and greenhouse gas emissions. [202092]

Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP in the UK reduced by approximately 36 per cent. between 1990 and 2002. The improving ratio is predominantly due to a combination of energy efficiency improvements and structural change in the UK economy, lower emissions of non-CO2 gases and fuel switching in the electricity supply industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial measures she plans to provide to assist householders to comply with regulations from the Environment Agency on relocating oil tanks. [201353]

The Environment Agency is using its general powers under the Water Resources Act 1991 to promote action by owners of domestic oil storage tanks to reduce the risk of pollution of an important groundwater source, used for public potable supply, underneath the village of Otterton in East Devon.

Neither the Department nor the Agency has plans or funds to offer financial assistance but the Agency will explore with those in genuine difficulty whether it is possible to take remedial action over a longer time period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure the implementation of the Appendix II listing of ramin agreed at the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Thailand immediately after the 90-day period when the new listing is due to come into force. [202079]

This issue is to be discussed at the next meeting of the EU Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora on 14 December 2004 and we will be pressing the Commission to ensure that this, and all the other CITES listings, are implemented within the 90 day deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efforts are being taken to encourage action at an EU level to ensure that ramin is listed under Annex B of EU Regulation 338/97. [202080]

Proposals to amend the Annexes to Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97, including the listing of ramin on Annex B, will be discussed at the next meeting of the EU Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora on 14 December 2004. These changes are needed to give effect to the amendments to the CITES appendices agreed in Bangkok last October and the UK will be pressing the Commission to ensure that they are adopted within the 90 day deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas trees that were recycled in each year since 1990; what support she provides to local authorities with regard to the recycling of Christmas cards; and if she will make a statement. [202077]

The Department does not collect separate data specific to either of these two recyclates.

Defra does support and takes part in a Christmas Card Recycling Scheme run by the Woodland Trust. Available data is shown in the following table:

The charity Environ estimates that 750,000 Christmas trees were recycled during 2003 (approx 12.5 per cent. of the total number sold) but they do not have information for previous years.

Defra's Waste Implementation Programme provides a range of support to local authorities to help them improve their recycling and composting performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the illegal taking of saker falcons from the wild for falconry purposes on this species' wild population across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. [202072]