To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by the Rural Payments Agency; what the running cost of the Agency was in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the future of the Agency. [203757]

The number of people employed by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as at 1 December 2004 was 3,699 (3,543 full-time time equivalents).

The total net running cost of RPA in 2003–04, including change programme costs was £198 million.

The RPA is a major, customer-facing delivery arm of Defra providing a range of services in support of the Department's objectives. It is the 'Paying Agency' for pillars 1 and 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within England, has a UK remit for trader schemes, and responsibility for the traceability of cattle in Great Britain. As such, it will deliver CAP Reform in England and administer the single payment scheme to farmers from 2005. There are currently no plans to alter these functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Fisheries Ministers on introducing a ban across the EU on bass trawler fishing. [201733]

In the light of the European Commission rejection of the UK case for an emergency closure of the pelagic pair trawl fishery for bass in the Western Channel, which was copied to Fisheries Directors of all member states, I announced that the UK would introduce a prohibition on the UK fishery within 12 miles of the south west coast of England. I intend to put a request to the European Commission to have the 12 mile prohibition applied to vessels from other member states operating in this area. In practice, other than UK vessels, the ban would only impact on a small number of French vessels who pair trawl for bass in the 12 mile area. I have passed in person a letter to the French Minister setting out the UK case and seeking his support for the prohibition. Officials have also discussed the measures with their French colleagues at a recent Commission meeting on this issue.

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

(1) what timetable she has set for the lifting of (a) the over-30-month scheme and (b) the export ban on British beef; [204193]

(2) when she expects the over-30-month scheme to end. [204194]

Defra will consult the industry and the EU Commission on the shape and duration of a successor to the OTMS, which will be required to dispose of cattle born before 1 August 1996.

Any changes in the domestic over-30-month (OTM) rule and the over-30-month scheme (OTMS) are unlikely to come into effect until the latter half of 2005. Changes in export restrictions are not expected to come into effect until late 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on the review of the Cattle Identification Regulations. [203643]

The review of the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 (as amended) is currently at the planning stage. We are expecting to work with stakeholders on the extent and scope of the review early next year. Depending on the outcome of these discussions, it is expected that the required public consultation will take place in the first half of 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to protect buyers of calves that have been sold without a British Cattle Movement Service passport. [203644]

It is for the recipient of cattle to ensure that the animal is accompanied by appropriate documentation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application of the precautionary principle in the Common Fisheries Policy. [204216]

We take very seriously the need to conserve fish stocks, and thus provide a good basis for a viable fishing industry. We continue to believe that managing fish stocks on the basis of precautionary reference points designed to keep biomass and fishing mortality well away from levels at which stocks risk collapse is the best way to proceed. The precautionary principle is an integral part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) but the commitment of the member states and the Commission is required to make sure it is applied. It also underpins the advice produced by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in which the UK participates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [202353]

The information requested in respect of the Department and its agencies is set out as follows. The Department does not hold centrally information about properties occupied by other public bodies.

During the last two years, there were a total of 10 empty properties owned by the Department. These comprised:

Four former MAFF Buffer Depots which were in the course of disposal, the total value of which was £1.535 million.

A former Buffer Depot at Rhydymwyn on contaminated land (nil value);

A former Central Science Laboratory site at Harpenden (value £2 million) and former CEFAS site at Conwy (£0.3 million) both of which were in the course of disposal;

A site formerly occupied by Horticulture Research International at Efford which became vacant in October 2003 (value £4.5 million) and is currently being marketed for sale;

Two properties empty for the purpose of refurbishment—55 Whitehall (value £4 million) and 3–8 Whitehall Place (£8.5 million).

Details of their annual costs and values are as follows:

⁽¹⁾ Includes rent, capital charge, service charge and rates, maintenance and facilities management. Includes the cost of property empty for the purposes of refurbishment.

⁽²⁾ Based on Valuation Office Agency valuation. Includes the value of property empty for the purposes of refurbishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental mobile telephones were used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in her 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. [202171]

The number of mobile phones held by the Department as at 14 December 2004 is 3,473, of which 46 are the responsibility of the Department's Secretariat. No information is held centrally on the number of phones which have been lost or stolen.

The total payment made to Defra's primary mobile phone contractors for the 12 months to December 2004 is £529,125.23. This includes rental, call charges, mobile phones and accessories. All contracts in place comply with the OGC negotiated contract.

Centralised records were not established until last year, so no details are available for earlier years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will release the post-mortem findings for the dolphins that have been washed up on shores in the South Hams since August. [203547]

The post-mortem findings for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) washed up on the shores of South Hams since August 2004 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the geographical restrictions and closed areas which apply to (a) specific types of fishing activity, (b) all commercial fishing activity, (c) demersal fishing and (d) pelagic fishing in United Kingdom territorial waters; and which areas have restrictions which apply (i) all year round and (ii) during part of the year. [204191]

The information requested is as follows:

In addition to these closures Sea Fisheries Committees have also restricted fishing in a number of areas around the English and Welsh coast. In particular Devon Sea Fisheries Committee introduced a total fishing ban around the Isle of Lundy in 2003 to protect the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve. Similarly, the Scottish Executive has implemented a variety of prohibitions on fishing in Scottish inshore Waters.

Ports occupied by the Royal Navy often exclude all fishing activity from areas close to anchorages and navigation channels. Other areas closed to fishing are historic wrecks and oil and gas installations, of which there are many in coastal and offshore waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to public funds was of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak; how much was requested by the UK Government from the European Commission to contribute towards meeting these costs; and how much was contributed by the Commission. [201024]

The cost to the UK public funds of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak was about £3 billion. The United Kingdom requested £960 million for re-imbursement from the European Commission which represented 60 per cent. of the total eligible costs (£1.6 billion). Of this the UK will receive some £350 million from the EC. This is the largest proportion of the costs of a disease outbreak ever received by a member state from the commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response the (a) European Commission and (b) European Court of Auditors made to her Department's request for funding to assist in meeting the cost of dealing with the consequences of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. [201801]

Following a full and detailed audit of the United Kingdom's claim for re-imbursement following the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak the European Commission has agreed a total payment of £350 million to the UK in settlement of our claim of £960 million.

In their report the Commission acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the 2001 FMD outbreak. The comments in the report centred on their opinion that the valuers employed by Defra had overvalued the animals culled, and that the Department had overpaid for goods and services.

As part of their audit of the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors made similar comments to those of the Commission and the NAO in regard to the unprecedented scale of the outbreak and with the regard to the overpayments and certain technical and financial inadequacies.

The UK will continue to work with the EU Commission, the EGA and other member states to ensure that the lessons learned from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001 are applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application of the Hague Preference; and in what circumstances she is prepared to invoke it. [204219]

Hague Preference (HP) is a Common Fisheries Policy mechanism designed to adjust national fish quota allocations to take account of the needs of certain fisheries dependent areas in northern parts of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. These arrangements can provide additional fishing opportunities to the UK and the Republic of Ireland when quotas for certain stocks fall below determined trigger levels.

When either or both of the UK and Ireland gain from the operating of Hague Preference, this is at the expense of the other member states having quotas in the fishery concerned.

We have refrained from invoking Hague Preference in some cases where stocks are seriously depleted, as in these cases the full operation of Hague Preference could transfer the bulk—or in some cases all—of other member states' allocations to the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has made of the practical applications of large-scale Manzanares-style solar chimneys. [204038]

I have been asked to reply.

The DTI has not made a specific study on the practical applications of large scale Manzanares-style solar chimneys. In the most recent report on the potential for renewables energy—Renewables Innovation Review February 2004—recommendations on solar related to photovoltaics only.

However the results of the Manzanares solar chimney project are widely reported. The technology is relatively inefficient as a means of converting sunlight into electricity (less than 1 per cent. of sunlight converted to electricity). In addition, to create significant power requires a high tower and a vast collection area. In addition there may be environmental impact considerations.

The company EnviroMission are proposing to build the first commercial scale power plant based on this technology in Melbourne, Australia. To produce 200 MW at a practical efficiency in this high solar gain area will require a tower of about 1 km high and a collection area of 40 square kilometres. The DTI will consider reviewing this technology when further results from the Australian project are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the attributable interviews that her 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. [201398]

All Special Advisers' contacts with the media are required to be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs f she will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that her Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [201459]

All Special Advisers' contacts with the media are required to be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct of Special Advisers"

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [202259]

All travel by the special advisers has been undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code. During this period the special advisers have visited, in an official capacity, the following places/countries at a cost listed in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [203467]

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by the then Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997. [203504]

Any speeches made by special advisers in an official capacity are required to be conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

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

(1) what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of turkeys sold for the fresh meat Christmas market which were produced and slaughtered in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [204195]

(2) how many United Kingdom produced turkeys have been slaughtered for (a) domestic consumption, (b) catering and (c) processing industries in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [204196]

(3) how much and what proportion of supplies of (a) fresh and frozen retail, (b) catering and (c) other (i) turkey, (ii) chicken and (iii) other poultry in the UK was imported in each of the last five years for which records are available; [204197]

(4) how much turkey, produced in the United Kingdom broken down by (a) weight and (b) number of head, was exported to (i) European Union member states and (ii) third countries in each of the last five years for which records are available. [204198]

Assuming the majority of turkey meat consumed during the Christmas period will have been slaughtered or imported during the final quarter of that year, the following table provides an estimate of the proportion of the Christmas market met from UK production. Figures are provided thousand tonnes carcase weight equivalent to provide comparability.

Turkeys (October-December)

⁽³⁾ Production plus imports less exports

⁽⁴⁾ Production less exports as percentage of supply

It is not possible to identify separately the use of turkey, chicken and other poultry for domestic household consumption, catering or processing industries. The following tables provides statistics on the total production and supply of turkey meat, chicken and other poultry in thousand tonnes carcase weight equivalent to provide comparability. Estimates are then derived on the proportion of total supplies sourced from imports.

Turkeys

Chickens

Other Poultry

Total Poultry Meat

The following table provides details of UK exports of live turkeys and turkey meat and meat products. Exports of turkey meat and meat products are only available by weight.

Note:

Tonnage figures are provided in product weight

Source:

HM Customs and Excise

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which urban foxes within the Greater London area are caught and then released into a rural environment; and if she will make a statement. [204087]

The Department has made no assessment of this.

It is not unlawful to trap foxes in live capture cage traps and to release them at the same or a different location as long as this is done humanely and as long as the fox is not abandoned in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.

However, I should point out, that the Department advises against relocating foxes on welfare grounds, mainly due to their territorial nature.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what health and safety guidance led to the decision to remove kettles from communal facilities for hon. Members and office staff in outbuildings on the Parliamentary estate. [205403]

I have been asked to reply.

The Serjeant at Arms is required to ensure that all electrical equipment in House of Commons buildings on the Parliamentary Estate meets health and safety requirements. When this is found not to be the case, the equipment is disposed of.

To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997. [203924]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) earlier today.

To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997. [203964]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) earlier today.

To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997. [204294]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 14 December 2004

To ask the Leader of the House whether his office's special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997. [204314]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [203322]

In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in the Wales Office under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Wales Office will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years. [203323]

The Wales Office was established July 1999. Departmental policy is to destroy files after they have been closed for five years. Any files which have been closed for five years or more will be reviewed in January 2005 in accordance with the Wales Office selection policies and disposal schedules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department's .gov.uk websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the Government in 2001; and if he will make a statement. [199689]

The Wales Office websites-www.walesoffice.gov.uk and its parallel Welsh site www.swvddfacvmru.gov.uk-are compliant to the Accessibility Guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997. [203457]

Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental mobile telephones were used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department in each year since 1997; at what cost; how many such telephones were lost or stolen in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were in each case. [202759]

holding answer 6 December 2004

Information relating to the number and cost of mobile telephones is only available from 1999.

⁽⁵⁾ Ex VAT.

⁽⁶⁾ To end September.

This information is not broken down into numbers for Ministers, special advisers and officials. There are a small number of local agreements in place for which information is not available. Information relating to individual areas, the number and cost of replacement of lost or stolen mobile telephones is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the gender pay gap among staff in his Department. [200809]

The Ministry of Defence conducted in 2003 an equal pay audit of its civilian staff following the publication of the report by the Equal Opportunities Commission Equal Pay Task Force, "Just Pay", in March 2001. 1 am pleased to report that no major problems were identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other armed forces personnel have been disciplined for the misuse of official cars since 1997. [202183]

holding answer 6 December 2004

The information requested is as follows:

Naval Service

Three officers and four other ranks have been tried and convicted for offences relating to the misuse of official cars. Details of naval personnel dealt with at summary level are not available.

Army

One officer and 23 soldiers were tried by court martial and found guilty for offences relating to the misuse of all types of military vehicles. Details of those dealt with at summary level have been recorded centrally only since 2001. Between then and 2003, 113 soldiers have been tried at summary level for similar offences.

RAF

27 cases involving airmen were dealt with at summary level and two at courts martial, one of whom was found not guilty. There were no cases involving officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Gibraltar Service Police Association (a) were not consulted on the changes to and (b) were not included in the distribution list for the Gibraltar Personnel Manual dated 17 November; and if he will make a statement. [203578]

holding answer 9 December 2004

Trade Union consultation for the development of the Gibraltar Personnel Manual is being undertaken through a sub committee of the Command Whitley, which is chaired jointly by a representative of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and local MOD management. The TGWU, which represents the majority of Locally Employed Civilians working in Gibraltar, has collective bargaining authority to negotiate the Gibraltar Personnel Manual, in consultation with other unions as the TGWU deems necessary. The omission of the GSPSA from the distribution of 17 November was a regrettable oversight that has now been corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) time off and (b) other facilities are available to the officials of the Gibraltar Service Police Association to enable them to fulfil their representative responsibilities and attend official meetings in Gibraltar and London; and if he will make a statement. [203579]

holding answer 9 December 2004

Members of the Gibraltar Services Police Association are entitled to time off and use of telephones, postal and other MOD resources in pursuance of Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association (GSPSA) business to a level agreed with the Chief Police Officer (CPO). The GSPSA has very recently written to the CPO articulating for the first time their requirements in respect of facility time, and resources needed. If the GSPSA attend an official meeting in London called by MOD then they will receive full support as do other unions. The subject of facility time was discussed further at a formal meeting with the GSPSA that was held in Gibraltar on 10 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of Command Secretariat Temporary Memorandum No. 46/04, The Gibraltar Personnel Manual, dated 17 November on (a) each category of personnel and (b) existing manuals and practices. [203580]

holding answer 9 December 2004

The Command Secretariat Temporary Memorandum No 46/04, the Gibraltar Personnel Manual, dated 17 November, notified staff of the publication of a chapter covering recruitment and will apply to all Gibraltar Locally Employed Civilians, unless there is a need for separate provisions for particular groups or classes. In the case of the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP), local management is in discussion with their representatives in a formal working group to develop particular regulations where needed. The Gibraltar Personnel Manual, when fully developed, will replace the UK MOD Civilian Personnel Manual and in part reflect Gibraltar employment law and customs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are members of military bands in (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army, (c) the Royal Air Force and (d) the Royal Marines. [204943]

The number of trained personnel in each Service's military bands are as follows:

⁽⁷⁾ Naval Service and Royal Air Force data are as at 1 November 2004, Army strength data are as at 14 December 2004.

⁽⁸⁾ Naval Service comprises Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Naval Service bands are provided by the Royal Marines' band service.

⁽⁹⁾ Royal Air Force figures exclude a combined total of 10 personnel based at HQ Music Services in Uxbridge and Plymouth Armed Forces Career Office.

All figures include Officers and Other Ranks and have been rounded to the nearest five.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service medals, broken down by type, are awaiting award to eligible service personnel; what the average waiting time is for personnel after completion of eligibility requirements for each award; and if he will make a statement. [204222]

As at 3 December 2004 there were 2,037 medals awaiting award to eligible service personnel and veterans. This figure is comprised of 46 Iraq Medals, 130 for service in the Suez Canal Zone and 1,861 other awards. Once eligibility has been established, medals are normally engraved and despatched within two weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Suez Canal Zone Medal will be made available to Mr. Rowland A Jones, Service Number 22662619; and if he will make a statement. [204771]

Insufficient evidence is currently available to assess Mr. Jones' application for the Canal Zone medal. If Mr. Jones would like to telephone the Army Medal Office on 01905 772323 extension 8740 it should be possible to resolve his case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish guidance issued by his Department to admirals speaking at dinners to celebrate Trafalgar Day this year. [202793]

holding answer 6 December 2004

The Royal Navy attaches considerable importance to commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar, and Trafalgar Night dinners are an ideal opportunity for articulating to a wider audience the vision for today's Royal Navy. This year, while wishing to avoid being prescriptive about speech content, the Naval Staff circulated guidance to personnel at all levels which they may have found useful as aides memoire for speakers to highlight as key points. These were:

"The Royal Navy (RN) has a tradition of being a world-beating navy. We have this tradition for a reason—good people, good training and good equipment—and also because we have been prepared to embrace change in the face of changing strategic situations.

Once again we face a period of significant change; we must remain resilient and best focus our resources to maintain our position as a world-beating navy.

Our priority is to deliver the core maritime roles of the Versatile Maritime Force: Maritime Force Projection, Theatre Entry, Flexible Global Reach, UK Maritime Security and Networked Command Control Communications Computers Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).

The work earlier this year to rebalance defence has resulted in adjustments to force levels for all three Services. For the Royal Navy this has resulted in reductions in the numbers of frigates, destroyers, submarines and mine counter measure vessels over the next two years.

Whilst reductions in hull numbers are never welcome, throughout the process we have been absolutely clear that delivering the future vision—a capable, flexible Navy focused on the ability to deliver effect onshore—is the priority.

At the heart of the Versatile Maritime Force is the Future Carrier programme (CVF), which remains the RN's top equipment priority. The work earlier this year recognised the importance of CVF and the planned in-service dates have been maintained.

The world is changing. We must respond to these changes if we are to maintain our relevance and traditional position as the best navy in the world.

We need to remember that our "audience" among the British public, and further afield, is changing, with many not having the same innate understanding and acceptance of the whys and hows of our business as would have been the case in the past. We have an excellent story to tell—and maintaining our reputation with this audience is vital."

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number. [200578]

As of February 2004, the information requested is set out in the following table:

There are a small number of video teleconferencing (VTC) units purchased under local agreements for which information is not available The percentage of offices that have these facilities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The use of VTC is actively encouraged and the Defence Communication Services Agency is currently revising its catalogue to offer VTC services more widely across the whole of the Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how an international finance facility would contribute to tackling poverty in developing countries. [205225]

Building on the commitments made by the donor community at Monterrey in 2002, the International Finance Facility (IFF) would generate the estimated extra $50 billion in development assistance required annually to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

The IFF would provide a critical mass of stable, predicable long-term funds frontloaded to tackle the causes of poverty, disease and illiteracy, meeting the needs of the world's poor right now.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic objectives of the UK's presidency of the G8. [205226]

As set out in Box 2.4 of the 2004 Pre-Budget Report, the Government sees its leadership of the G7 and G8 in 2005 as an opportunity to tackle the key challenges that come from the radical changes currently under way in the global economy. These include: international poverty reduction to ensure that the world's poorest can share in rising prosperity; structural economic reform in the developed world to increase flexibility; openness to free and fair trade; and supporting the drive to tackle climate change as a priority for all industrialised nations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the work of the Commission for Africa. [205227]

2005 will be a critical year for assessing progress towards the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals. We know already that Africa is not on track to meet any of these goals by the target date of 2015. The Commission for Africa was established to examine the evidence and identify the action required to accelerate progress. The Commission has consulted widely on its draft conclusions. The final Commission meeting will be held in February 2005, and the report published in March.

The Chancellor meets regularly with this fellow Commissioners engaged in the economic section of the Commission for Africa's work, most recently in Ottawa in October and Berlin last month. In addition, the Chancellor hosted high-level breakfasts in No11 in July with senior business leaders and NGOs operating in Africa in order to draw upon some of their experience and views.

The Chancellor is planning to visit Africa early next year to hold discussions on the economy section with fellow Commissioner and African Finance Ministers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards securing greater economic flexibility within the Eurozone. [205228]

Economic flexibility is important not just for the Eurozone, but for all EU member states. That is why the Government remains a strong advocate of economic reform at home and in Europe. Though much progress has been made towards the Lisbon targets for 2010, there is still a need for member states to do more, in particular, to tackle the structural rigidities that hamper economic growth and performance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the level of taxation on gaming. [205229]

Treasury Ministers regularly discuss a wide range of business with colleagues at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. However, as I set out in a written answer on 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1293W no such discussions have been held on gambling tax rates. Tax policy is a matter for the Chancellor and is considered as part of the Budget process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his measures in the pre-Budget report to help people into work. [205230]

The Government receives a variety of representations on our measures to help people into work. The success of our welfare to work policies is evident in Wednesday's employment figures, which showed that employment is at near record levels, at 74.7 per cent. The new deal—the most successful employment programme in our history—has now helped over 1,169,000 individuals into work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in levels of central Government staffing between 1997 and 2004. [205233]

Data concerning civil service numbers between 1997 and 2004 has been published in "Civil Service Statistics". Current information can be found on the Cabinet Office's website.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many direct taxes have been introduced since 1997; and how many times existing direct taxes have been raised. [205234]

All changes to taxation since 1997 are set out in the relevant Financial Statement and Budget Reports, which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of providing tax relief to employees who receive financial support from their employers to buy childcare services; and if he will make a statement. [204850]

holding answer 14 December 2004

I refer the hon. Member to page 6 of the "Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report" and "Financial Statement and Budget Report 2004¹ " [HC 301].

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/7A8/DF/bud04_cha_l90.pdf¹ This page can be accessed at

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters dated 22 July and 18 November from the hon. Member for Hull, North concerning correspondence from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Hull about the VAT partial exemption method. [204866]

My hon. Friend will receive a reply to his letters within the next week.

The letter will contain an explanation for the delay in providing a response.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU funding supports the Local Government International Bureau; whether such public funds were used for its advertising in the House Magazine on 15 November; what his policy is on this use of public funds for this purpose; and if he will make a statement. [204066]

I have been asked to reply.

The Local Government International Bureau (LGIB)—the European and international arm of the Local Government Association—receives no funding from the European Union for its ordinary activities, including the placing of the advertisement in the House Magazine on 15 November. The overall aim of the LGIB is to promote high quality democratic local government and its interests within Europe and internationally—an aim which the Government supports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross domestic product of the London borough of Wandsworth has been in each of the last three years. [205913]

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 16 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about GDP for the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years (205913).

The London Borough of Wandsworth is in the Inner London West (NUTS3 area), which is currently the lowest geographic level at which Gross Value Added¹ (GVA) is published. The latest published information is for 2001.

The estimates in the table below are based on the regional Gross Value Added www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournalGVA_NUTS3_Methods_and_Background.pdf¹ (GVA) estimates published in December 2003. These are available on the National Statistics website at: htlp://

⁽¹⁰⁾ Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, how many claims to tax have been (a) reduced and (b) cancelled in the last tax year; and what the sums involved were. [204676]

Neither the Inland Revenue nor HM Customs & Excise keep this information in this form. It could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the measures contained in the pre-Budget report on older pensioners. [205231]

The Government recognises that older pensioners have been living on fixed incomes for longer and are therefore more likely to have a lower income than younger pensioners.

Older pensioners will benefit from the pension credit, which this year guarantees a minimum income of £105 a week, free television licences and a winter fuel payment of £300. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in this year's Pre Budget Report that the pension credit will be uprated in line with earnings and that we will be paying a further £50 payment to households with someone over age 70 alongside the winter fuel payment in 2005–06 to help with council tax and other living expenses. As a result of all this Government's measures the poorest third of pensioners will be £36 a week better off.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funds he is making available for regeneration projects in England. [205232]

This year, the Government has made available more than £1.5 billion for regeneration through programmes such as Neighbourhood Renewal, Housing Market Renewal and English Partnerships. In addition, a significant proportion of the £1.85 billion allocated to the Regional Development Agencies will be spent on regeneration as one of their core functions. Between 2005–06 and 2007–08, the Government intends on current plans to allocate more than £4.6 billion for regeneration, plus a proportion of the £6.7 billion allocated to RDAs, alongside £730 million through the European Regional Development Fund.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people retired in each year group in the last year for which figures are available. [204909]

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

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Drew, dated 16 December 2004

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about retired people. I am replying in his absence. (204909)

The available information, shown in the attached table, is based on those people who described themselves as retired in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and who a year earlier were in employment. The table relates to people interviewed in the LFS during the three months ending in May 2004. The figures are shown for age groups defined by age at the time of LFS interview. Information about exact age at retirement is not available.

The estimates for the Labour Force Survey are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

People who retired during the past year by age three months ending in May 2004, United Kingdom—not seasonally adjusted -- Thousand⁽¹¹⁾

⁽¹¹⁾ People who retired during the past year are defined as those who described themselves as retired in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and were employed one year earlier. Age is defined as age at interview in the LFS.

⁽¹²⁾ Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.

Note:

Some of these estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Source:

ONS, Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child tax credit claimants he has written to with details about the process of finalising their 2003–04 claim and renewing a claim for 2004–05 reassessments, broken down by region; how many have responded, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [204735]

The number of families in each region with awards current at 5 April 2004 are shown in "Child and Working Tax Credits Quarterly Statistics. April 2004." All these families were contacted about finalising their 2003–04 award and renewing their claim into 2004–05.

Some families were required to reply only if a change in their circumstance had occurred, or if their 2003–04 income fell outside a given range. As a result, some awards have been finalised on new information provided and others on the basis of information already provided. No split by region is available of the number providing new information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credits payments have been made manually for (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year. [204857]

holding answer 14 December 2004

About 500,000 such payments were made in 2003–04, and about 280,000 between April and November 2004 inclusive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals his Department has received in respect of requests to reconsider recovery of tax credit overpayments; and how many have been successful. [204867]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar) on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1087–88W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the nature is of an exceptional technical problem, referred to in a letter from the Inland Revenue to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead concerning a tax credits case; and how many of these technical problems there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year. [205294]

If my right hon. Friend would provide me with details of his correspondence with the Inland Revenue, I will look into the matter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Inland Revenue officers mean when saying a tax credits case has gone technical; and how many such technical cases there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year. [205295]

This is not an expression that the Inland Revenue recognises. If my right hon. Friend would like to provide details of the instance when this was said, they will look into it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what it means when Inland Revenue officers refer to a fatal error, in a tax credits case; and how many such errors there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year. [205296]

The term comes from an error message staff sometimes see on the tax credits system. It means they could not see details about the taxpayer concerned. The vast majority are resolved by trying again.

It is not possible to provide the number of errors there have been in the periods referred to.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the teenage pregnancy rate in Ribble Valley and Fulwood was in each year since 1997. [205067]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 16 December 2004

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage pregnancy rate in Kibble Valley and Fulwood was in each year since 1997. (205067)

The number of teenage conceptions that occurred in 2000 in Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency was 33. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituencies for other years. Figures are available for each year to 2002 for local authority and health authority areas.

Rates cannot be supplied for 2000 as population estimates by parliamentary constituencies are not available for that year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) Government Departments and agencies and (b) public bodies which use 0870 telephone numbers as contact numbers for members of the public. [205418]

This information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice has been given to Government Departments on the advisability of using 0870 numbers when making telephone calls. [205419]

There is no Government policy on the use of 0870 numbers. Each Government organisation is free to make its own arrangements depending on its particular requirements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to advise (a) Government Departments and agencies and (b) public bodies to use 0845 or alternative direct numbers in preference to 0870 numbers as contact numbers for members of the public. [205420]

There is no Government policy on the use of either direct numbers, 0845 or 0870 numbers. Each Government Department, agency and public body is free to make its own arrangements depending on its particular requirements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) contacts and (b) protocols are in place between customs authorities in the European Union to track and trace (i) virus and (ii) vaccine stocks and materials as they cross borders. [204547]

HM Customs and Excise have no contact or protocols with other customs authorities in relation to these materials, although structures and relationships are in place that would allow such contacts and protocols to be rapidly established if this was felt necessary. HM Customs and Excise enforce licensing restrictions on the import into Great Britain from countries outside the European Union of animal disease samples and their carriers (such as fleas or blood samples) imposed by the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980. Customs also enforce licensing restrictions on the import from and export to countries outside the European Union where such materials are derived from endangered species protected by virtue of EU Council Regulation 338/97.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) new applications and (b) renewals are outstanding for working tax credit. [205282]

The child and working tax credits have a joint claim form, therefore it is not possible to distinguish between claims for working tax credit and claims for child tax credit.

Nearly 140,000 new claims were received during November. As at 31 November 2004, there were around 75,000 claims that were waiting for further information or were being verified.

Information on the number of renewals waiting for further information or were being verified is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a system to stop payment of working tax credit as soon as a recipient notifies the Inland Revenue that they have become ineligible to receive it. [205287]

The tax credits system is responsive to changes in claimants' circumstances. Payments will be stopped as soon as a claimant notifies the Inland Revenue that they are no longer eligible to receive tax credits.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the date of the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase order relating to the development of the Anglia Polytechnic University site in Victoria Road South, Chelmsford will be announced. [205324]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to make an announcement in the near future.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will investigate (a) the activities of Estates and Management Ltd. and (b) its treatment of leaseholders in England and Wales. [205280]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have the power to carry out investigations of companies that own and/or manage residential leasehold properties. Investigations into companies under company law are the responsibility of the Companies Investigations Branch at the Department of Trade and Industry, who are able to consider applications for, and carry out investigations.

However, through the wide-ranging leasehold provisions in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has significantly improved the rights of long leaseholders. These provisions include the right to ask a leasehold valuation tribunal to determine the liability to pay, and the reasonableness of, administration charges.

On 16 November the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also made the 5th Commencement Order which will bring into force the latest phase of provisions to protect leaseholders and improve their rights. These will include the requirement for landlords to demand ground rent in a prescribed manner before being able to take any action or imposing penalties for late payment, and will prevent landlords from forfeiting leases as a result of trivial debts consisting of ground rent, service charges and administration charges (or a combination of them) where the debt does not exceed £350, unless all or any part of the sum has been outstanding for more than three years. These provisions will come into effect from 28 February 2005.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government grant has been allocated to the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years. [203590]

The amount of central Government grant allocated to the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years is tabled as follows.

Government grants to LB Wandsworth

The data are outturn figures for 2002–03 and budget data for 2003–04 and 2004–05. The amounts are as reported by the local authority.

The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the estimates of the number and proportion of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) with three or more storeys contained in section 3 of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions 1999 report on HMOs in the private rented sector. [203907]

The "English House Condition Survey 1996: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the private rented sector" report, published in 1999, estimated that around 40 per cent. of private rented sector HMOs (excluding converted flats) had three or more storeys. This suggests that of the 447,000 private rented sector HMOs (excluding converted flats), about 179,000 were of three or more storeys. This figure covers traditional HMOs, shared houses and households with lodgers. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take these estimates into account in deciding where to draw the threshold for mandatory licensing as provided by the Housing Act 2004.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his 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 he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it. [200617]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. During the period 1 November 2003 to 31 October 2004 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister paid supplier invoices, on average, within 4.93 days. During this period, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister paid 98.87 per cent. of undisputed invoices within 30 days or the agreed credit terms. The percentage of invoices that remained unpaid after 90 days in this period is 0.1 per cent.

The policy in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is that all valid invoices not in dispute should be paid within 30 days from receipt. The target in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for 2004–05 is to pay 98 per cent. of valid invoices within 30 days of receipt. This target and progress on achieving it is monitored every month.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further steps he is taking to protect leaseholders from intimidation by freeholders. [205279]

Long leaseholders in England will have improved protection and rights with the implementation of the next phase of provisions in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

These measures are in addition to the provisions that have already been introduced to improve leaseholders' rights, and will:

require landlords to demand ground rent in a specific manner before being able to take any action or impose penalties for late payment;

require landlords to first satisfy a leasehold valuation tribunal, court or arbitral tribunal that a disputed breach of a lease has occurred before being able to take any forfeiture action;

prevent landlords from forfeiting leases as a result of trivial debts consisting of ground rent, service charges and administration charges (or a combination of them) where the debt does not exceed £350, unless all or any part of the sum has been outstanding for more than three years.

Prevents landlords of leasehold houses from insisting that leaseholders use a particular insurance company nominated or approved by them to insure the house.

These measures form part of the 5th Commencement Order and will come into effect from 28 February 2005.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the planning regulations which permit motor racing events on farms or other land holdings; and what restrictions apply, with particular reference to the ability to control similar events on other holdings in an area. [204433]

Part 4 of the "Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995" (the GPDO) grants a general planning permission for the temporary use of land for up to 28 days in any calendar year, subject to a number of restrictions and conditions. The general permission for motor sports, however, is limited to not more than 14 days in total, in recognition that they may, in some locations, cause problems such as parking, environmental damage, and noise. The use of land for motor sports for greater than 14 days would generally require an application for planning permission.

Unless a planning condition or other legal obstacle (such as a restrictive covenant) affects the situation, development permitted by the GPDO cannot be prevented except by the local authority using its powers under Article 4 of the GPDO to withdraw permitted development rights.

However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's guidance to authorities emphasises that these powers should be used only in exceptional circumstances. They are intended for use where there is a real and specific threat to the proper planning or amenities of a limited area. Whether to make a direction is entirely a decision for the local planning authority, though in the case of directions made under Article 4(1), approval by the Secretary of State is necessary for the direction to take effect.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister

(1) what consultation should be carried out prior to the declaration of a renewal area; [203647]

(2) under what circumstances the declaration of a renewal area permits the use of compulsory purchase orders. [203648]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1119–20W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which decisions by local spending bodies require (a) authorisation by and (b) consultation with Government offices for the regions. [204175]

The Government offices for the regions (GOs) carry out activities on behalf of 10 Government Departments. A list of the occasions in which local spending bodies require authorisation by and consultation with GOs is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation is required before declaration of a renewal area. [203044]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1119–20W.