To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many deaths within the Humberside police area alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each of the past five years. [208364]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Shona McIsaac, dated 18 January 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking for how many deaths within Humberside police area, alcohol was found to be a primary cause in each of the last five years. (208364)

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

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption. Apart from deaths due to accidental poisoning with alcohol, this definition excludes external causes of death, such as road traffic deaths and other accidents, and alcohol-related suicides and homicides. Estimates of the annual total number of deaths in which alcohol has played a role can therefore vary widely depending on the criteria used. The definition used by ONS allows for consistent comparisons over time for those deaths where a clear association with alcohol consumption can generally be assumed.

Alcohol-related deaths for Humberside police area (which comprises the four unitary authorities of Kingston upon Hull, City of, East Riding of Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire),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 2001–03 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes:

F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol

142.6—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 these areas.

⁽³⁾ Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend to older children the advantages of saving up to £1,200 a year tax free, which is available to younger children under the Child Trust Fund. [209270]

The Child Trust Fund goes live on 6 April 2005 and the Government have already backdated eligibility to September 2002. Older children can benefit from tax-free saving too. The market offers a wide range of savings and investment accounts designed especially for children from National Savings and Investment products to Friendly Societies, banks and building societies. Every child has a personal tax allowance of £4,745 a year and parents are taxed on their child's account only when the gift produces more than £100 gross income per year, per parent. The Child Trust Fund offers new opportunities and new incentives that never existed before. In conjunction with other saving products offered by the market it will help to encourage saving for all children. The Government keeps all saving incentives under review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to his 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. [202501]

The Treasury plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on financial services, tax and certain aspects of social security provision.

Information on directives and regulations in the field of financial services can be found in the document "The EU Financial Services Action Plan: Delivering the FSAP in the UK", published by HM Treasury in conjunction with the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England in May 2004. The Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP) set out a programme of legislative and other action in the area of financial services. The above document sets out the purpose of FSAP and related measures, with a timetable for their implementation, and is available via the Treasury's public website.

Over the last two years, the Treasury has led on the implementation of a number of tax directives; of which the principal ones have been:

The implementation of Directive 2003/93 removed VAT from the scope of the Mutual Assistance Directive (77/799) and introduced a separate regulation for the exchange of information on VAT by replacing Regulation 218/92 with the VAT Administrative Co-operation Regulation (1798/2003).

The Energy Products Directive 2003/96 updated and replaced 98/81 and 92/82. The updates related to new energy products such as biodiesel being incorporated into duty suspension arrangements. Those parts of the EPD not previously implemented were implemented by The Biofuels and other fuel substitutes (Payment of Excise Duty etc.) Regulations 2004 and the Excise Warehousing (Energy Products) Regulations 2004.

Directive 2003/92 amends the sixth VAT Directive (DIR 77/388), 7 October 2003—changing the place of supply of gas and electricity so that supplies to taxable dealers take place (and are therefore taxed) where the dealer is established, and supplies to others take place where the gas or electricity is used and consumed.

Directive 2002/38 amends the sixth VAT Directive (DIR 77/388), 15 May 2002 (implemented on 1 July 2003)—changing the place of supply of electronically supplied services and broadcasting services, provided by non-EU businesses, so that supplies to taxable customers take place (and are therefore taxed) where the customer is established, and supplies to others take place where the broadcasting services are used and consumed or in the case of electronically supplied services, where the customer resides.

Directive 2003/49 is concerned with a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different member states. The purpose is to allow for the flow of interest and royalty payments between companies defined in the directive situated in different member states without taxation in the country in which the payment arose.

Directive 2003/93/EC amends Directive 77/799/EEC concerning mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the member states in the field of direct and indirect taxation. The purpose is to strengthen co-operation between tax administrations in member states. (This is linked to Council Regulation EC 1798/2003 on cooperation in the field of VAT.)

Directive 2003/48/EC relates to taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments. The purpose is to combat tax evasion by individuals on cross-border savings income. Under the directive, information will be collected automatically about the payment of savings income to residents in certain other countries and exchanged with tax authorities in those countries. During a transitional period, until they implement automatic exchange of information, three member states—Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg—will instead apply a withholding tax on cross-border interest payments made to individuals. Council Decision 2004/587/EC set the date of application of Directive 2003/48/EC as 1 July 2005.

Directive 2004/56/EC amending Directive 77/799/EEC has regard to mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the member states in the field of direct taxation, certain customs duties and taxation of insurance premiums. The purpose is to improve, expand and modernise the original rules.

Directive 2004/66/EC amended Directive 2003/48/EC concerning taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments. The purpose is to allow for the accession of the new member states.

2004/76 amending Directive 2003/49/EC concerning a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different member states. The purpose is to allow for the accession of the new member states.

EC regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some regulations enact small or technical amendments. Since 17 April 2002, HM Treasury has implemented:

Regulation 792/2002 amending Regulation No. 218/92, 15 May 2002 (implemented on 1 July 2003), concerning the provision of a special scheme for non-EU businesses, making supplies of electronically supplied services, enabling VAT to be accounted for electronically in all member states.

Council Regulation (EC) 859/2003 of 14 May 2003 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover nationals of third countries who are not already covered by the provisions solely on the grounds of their nationality. These regulations remove barriers to free movement of workers within the Community and provide for the co-ordination of member states' social security systems.

We do not hold information on the costs to public funds of implementation. regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) are produced for all proposals, including European legislation, likely to impose costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. Copies of these are placed in the Libraries of the House, and on the Treasury's public website. In some cases, new directives and regulations may be deregulatory measures that impose no costs, or even reduce costs for business.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues regarding their expenditure on matters relating to the constitutional treaty for the European Union. [208760]

Departmental expenditure on matters relating to the constitutional treaty for the European Union would be agreed as normal through Treasury approval of departmental estimates. Rules on the conduct of referendums, including on referendum expenses, are laid out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to identify alternative funding for the Fairshare scheme; and if he will make a statement. [208636]

I have been asked to reply.

This is a lottery initiative and any further funding will be a matter for the Big Lottery Fund. The Big Lottery Fund is consulting widely about the new programmes it will launch later this year. These programmes will include an emphasis on tackling disadvantage and ensuring all parts of the country receive a fair share of Big Lottery Fund grants. We are encouraging everyone with an interest in Fairshare to join in the consultation and help the Big Lottery Fund design the new arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about allowing health service managers to set hospital performance targets. [209085]

During Spending Review 2004 the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Health agreed there should be fewer national targets and greater devolution to local NHS organisations, giving them more scope to set local targets within a framework of clear national standards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times since 1997 the clawback clause to recover excess profits on former Ministry of Defence sites has been invoked; which sites were involved; what the sum involved was in each case; and if he will make a statement. [208687]

Payments under the Profit Share Agreement with Annington Homes Ltd. (referred to in the question as 'clawback') are triggered when £1 million is due. A comprehensive list of all the sites to which the payments refer and what sums are involved for each sale is not kept in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, to date, the payments total over £110 million with about 100 sites having been released wholly to Annington and about 125 sites partially released.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how much money is contained in the National Insurance Fund; [208404]

(2) how much money has been allocated to the NHS from the National Insurance Fund in each of the last five years. [208405]

I refer the hon. Member to the 'Report by the Government Actuary's on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating order and Social Security' published each year on the Government Actuary's Department website at www.gad.gov.uk/Publications/SociaMnsurance.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the questions tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, on (a) 13 December 2004, reference 205303 and (b) 16 December 2004, reference 206610. [209466]

I have already done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about allowing headteachers to set performance targets in schools. [209053]

The Chancellor has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about a range of matters, including the use of performance targets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers. [207234]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds was of the state banquet on 18 November 2004; and what the cost to public funds has been of state banqueting in each of the last five years. [208233]

I have been asked to reply.

The cost to public funds of food, drink and printing for the banquet on 18 November 2004 and for state banqueting in each of the last five years was as follows:

No inward State or Special Visits took place in 2002 due to Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

In addition to the costs specified in the table, each banquet will have attracted a staff cost. However, staff costs are recorded for each visit in its entirety and to attempt to identify the amounts applicable to each banquet would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been paid in compensation by the Inland Revenue to tax credit claimants in each month in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year. [205303]

holding answer 16 December 2004

The circumstances in which Inland Revenue will make compensation payments to tax credits claimants are explained in Code of Practice 1 "Putting things right when we make mistakes".

A copy of this leaflet is sent with all replies to complaints and is readily available on the Inland Revenue website. The amounts paid in compensation to tax credit claimants, up to the end of December 2004 are detailed:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit cases it has not been possible to amend the circumstances affecting their tax credit award despite notification having been given to the Inland Revenue because of IT failures; and if he will make a statement. [206610]

There are, from time to time, small numbers of tax credits awards where there are difficulties in completing some of the award calculations on the tax credits IT. system. Where a claimant notifies a change in circumstances, in such circumstances, any alteration to the amount of the tax credit payments is calculated clerically.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the take-up rate for (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit was for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) the current tax year in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [209468]

No estimates of take-up rates for tax credits will be available until household survey data for 2003–04 have been analysed. Subject to ensuring the data and methodology are sufficiently robust, we expect the analysis to be completed towards the end of 2005–06.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and what percentage change that represents. [208766]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 18 January 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Leyton and Wanstead Parliamentary Constituency. (208766)

The estimates available relate to the twelve-month periods ending in February 1997 and February 2004, the latest period for which information is available. In these periods the numbers of unemployed people, who were resident in the Leyton and Wanstead Parliamentary Constituency, were 6,000 and 5,000 respectively.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability and the estimates of changes over time for local areas are particularly affected.

A more reliable indication of change between 1997 and 2004 at Parliamentary Constituency level is the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The annual average number of people resident in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency claiming JSA benefits in 1997 was 4,158. The corresponding average for the first 11 months of 2004 was 2,310. Between the two years there was a fall of 44 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005. [206946]

I refer the hon. Member to our replies to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 13 January 2005, Official Report, columns 598–99W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) if he will list the (a) working groups and (b) work streams under way under Project Heathrow; and what deadlines have been set for each work stream; [208495]

(2) if he will list the members of the mixed-mode working group of Project Heathrow; [208496]

(3) if he will place in the Library copies of the working papers of the working groups under Project Heathrow. [208506]

The forward work programme on Heathrow encompasses a range of activities and working arrangements with various parties. Much of this is work in progress and there are no plans at present to deposit copies of all papers in the Library. Details of the work programme can be found on the Department's website, along with notes of meetings of the air quality technical panels. Further papers will be published on the Department's website as work progresses, in accordance with the Department's publication scheme.

The initial work to identify possible mixed mode options and develop proposals is being led by BAA. There is no Departmental working group, although the Department is being kept closely informed.

All the work is designed to enable concluded views to be reached before the end of next year on the prospects for further development at Heathrow, consistent with the environmental conditions set out in the Air Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers. [207232]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 17 January 2005, .Official Report, column 753W

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September. [205824]

holding answer 20 December 2004

The Department for Transport HQ buildings do not have any centrally provided 0870 numbers.

Departmental Agencies do use 0870 numbers.

VOSA has two 0870 numbers which raised £4,627.68 in the period.

The DVLA raised £1.1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether UK Government policy permits the (a) touching down and (b) refuelling in the UK of US aircraft, where such aircraft are carrying individuals destined for interrogation in countries that routinely use torture in their prisons. [208340]

The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation entitles foreign civil aircraft to make technical stops, for example for refuelling, without requiring the permission of the state it stops in. As such the Department is not notified if technical stops of this nature are made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department first considered providing logistical support and heavy-lifting helicopters to countries hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami; and what assessment has been made of the merits of the re-deployment of personnel and equipment from Iraq to disaster-hit countries. [208236]

Ministry of Defence officials and Ministers initially learned of the Indian Ocean earthquake through departmental duty officers and broadcast media on Boxing Day 2004. The first formal contact to discuss the implications of the earthquake occurred between DfID and MOD officials early that day. Over subsequent days, MOD and the Permanent Joint Headquarters explored options for supporting DfID in the relief operation, culminating in decisions to provide military capabilities—particularly airlift and a maritime presence—on 30 December. Deployment of military assets commenced on 30 December. This included the re-deployment of several assets including HMS Chatham and RFA Diligence to aid the relief effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time (UK time) his Department learned of the earthquake off Sumatra on 26 December 2004; and what actions were set in train as a result. [208237]

Ministry of Defence officials and Ministers initially learned of the Indian Ocean earthquake through departmental duty officers and broadcast media on Boxing Day 2004. The first formal contact to discuss the implications of the earthquake occurred between DfID and MOD officials early that day. Over subsequent days, MOD and the Permanent Joint Headquarters explored options for supporting DfID in the relief operation, culminating in decisions to provide military capabilities—particularly airlift and a maritime presence—on 30 December. Deployment of military assets commenced on 30 December. Subsequently a number of further niche capabilities have been provided to support the DfID-led relief operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance the UK has provided following the tsunami disaster; and what plans he has made for further military assistance. [208331]

holding answer 17 January 2005

The Ministry of Defence has reacted quickly with other Government Departments in responding to this disaster, with the focus being on assisting the UN through DfID, with whom we are working very closely, and the provision of direct relief where appropriate.

The following military assets have been assigned to assist in the relief operation in the Indian Ocean:

The frigate HMS Chatham (which carries two Lynx helicopters) was redirected to the area on 30 December, arriving on 3 January; and the support ship RFA Diligence, already in the region, joined Chatham off Sri Lanka on 5 January. These vessels have undertaken a number of relief tasks, including assistance to the town of Baticoloa in the East of Sri Lanka, and provision of engineers to the Maldives to assist with refurbishment of generators and desalination equipment. Chatham and Diligence have worked closely with an Observation, Liaison and Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) which deployed to Colombo on 31 December, part of which also deployed to the Maldives on 6 January.

Royal Air Force C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft have also been assisting in the aid operation since 31 December, including through the delivery of UN infrastructure equipment and medical and other relief supplies into the worst affected areas.

A further OLRT deployed to Indonesia on 2 January, including to the Aceh region. MOD liaison officers are deployed with the US, Australian and Indonesian military headquarters in the region.

The Indonesian Government has accepted an offer of additional technical support in the form of two Ball 212 helicopters from the Gurkha Garrison in Brunei. These two aircraft are planned to deploy to the area on 12 January. Further, small, deployments of niche capabilities such as logistics planners and engineers have also taken place in response to DfID and OLRT requests.

UK MOD continues to work closely with Governments in the region, the UN and DflD to determine the requirement for military assistance over the coming period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules C130 planes from RAF Lyneham have been made available for the aid effort in the Indian Ocean; and how many of them have been deployed. [208816]

holding answer 17 January 2005

Five Hercules C130 aircraft were identified as available for deployment. To date DfID have only called forward two of these aircraft. A C17 aircraft and a TriStar aircraft have also been tasked to provide relief aid to the affected region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the deployable field hospital at RAF Lyneham is not being used for disaster relief in the Indian Ocean. [208819]

holding answer 17 January 2005

Ministry of Defence has offered support to enable UN-led relief operations in the affected region. The requests for MOD assets and capabilities have been co-ordinated by DfID. To date DfID representatives and the MOD OLRT (Operational Level Recce Team) in theatre have not identified a requirement for deployable field hospitals to be sent to the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type. [207679]

The Ministry of Defence and its staff use thousands of electronic devices in the delivery of its business on a daily basis. The quantity and classification by type of these devices is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with his US counterparts the findings of the Report on Scientific Progress in Understanding Gulf War Illnesses of September 2004 commissioned by the US Secretary for Veteran Affairs; and if he will make a statement. [209149]

holding answer 17 January 2005

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [200616]

The Ministry of Defence does not keep statistics on the average length of time taken to pay suppliers' invoices. The vast majority of invoices issued to the Ministry of Defence from suppliers are submitted directly to the Defence Bills Agency, Liverpool. In 2003–04, the Agency paid 99.98 per cent. of all valid bills within 11 calendar days of receipt. Only three invoices (out of the 4.9 million processed) took longer than 30 days, and none remained unpaid after 90 days.

The Government are committed to improving the payment culture in the UK in order to create a fair and stable business climate. Government departments and their agencies should aim to pay all invoices not in dispute within 30 days or within the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified.

As you can see, the Department fully supports this policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel he expects will be in Iraq at the time of the January election. [207995]

holding answer 17 January 2005

As at 14 January 2005, approximately 8,950 United Kingdom armed forces personnel were serving on Op. Telic. Of these, approximately 8,150 are based within Iraq.

We anticipate that the figures above will increase by approximately 400 by 30 January 2005, the date of the Iraqi elections, with the arrival of the Extremely High Readiness Reserve on 17–19 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish the assessment undertaken by his Department of the United States Department of Defense Report on the Khamisiyah chemical weapons storage bunker in Iraq. [208788]

The Ministry of Defence assessment of the United States Department of Defense report on Khamisiyah is currently being finalised and the intention is to publish this shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated out-of-service date for the Mirach target drone is. [208793]

Under current arrangements it is planned that the Mirach target will be in service until 2007. It may continue in service beyond that date as part of the successor Combined Aerial Target Service but no decisions have yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the survey on sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and bullying in the Royal Air Force which was reported in July. [207587]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997. [203448]

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 whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997. [203505]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to allow visits by the public to the Victoria Cross memorial and other areas of his Department's building in Whitehall; and if he will make a statement. [206970]

Visits by small groups of members of the public to certain areas of the Ministry of Defence's Main Building in Whitehall, such as the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial and the Henry VIII Wine Cellar, will be possible but only by prior arrangement and as security circumstances permit. Considerations of safety and security preclude open access and may lead to pre-arranged visits being cancelled at short notice.

Groups wishing to visit should apply via the 'Visiting Ministry of Defence Properties' section of the MOD website: http://www.mod.uk/aboutus/visits/

Pictures of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial can be found on the Defence Image Database: http://www.photos.mod.uk

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission in how many rooms in the House to which hon. Members have access, other than their offices, smoking is (a) permitted and (b) banned. [207869]

The Members' Handbook contains guidance on places where hon. Members may currently smoke in the House of Commons, including a list of designated non-smoking areas. In the outbuildings there is a presumption that common areas are non-smoking unless designated otherwise. The Commission will shortly be considering policy on smoking in the light of a review which it initiated in July 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the cricket authorities on their decision not to sign a contract for the broadcasting of domestic test cricket on terrestrial stations; and whether she has considered re-listing test cricket. [209043]

I was briefed by the England and Wales Cricket Board on the outcome of their negotiations. Cricket test matches played in England are protected under the listing provisions, but only in respect of secondary coverage, such as highlights. Of the terrestrial channels, Five are to televise test highlights at peak time and live commentary will be available on BBC radio. It may be necessary to review the statutory list as digital take-up increases but any such review would not affect contracts already entered into.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the take-up of digital television; and if she will make a statement. [209177]

According to figures published by Ofcom, digital television was in 55.9 per cent. of households at the end of the third quarter of 2004. This is up from 47 per cent. at the same point in 2003, with satellite, terrestrial and cable all contributing to this progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tenders were let by her Department to external suppliers in financial year 2003–04; and what the value was. [209116]

69 contracts were let by competitive tender during the period 2003–04 with a value of £6,073,646. A number of these contracts were call-off contracts still extant so the final value of those is not yet known.

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

(1) what discussions she has had with the British Horseracing Board on the recent relevant European Court of Justice ruling; and what the outcome of the discussions was; [209130]

(2) what representations she has received on extending the life of the Levy Board. [209131]

holding answer 17 January 2005

I have received a number of representations from within the racing industry that the abolition of the Levy Board should be deferred and have met representatives of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) on several occasions since the European Court of Justice ruling was announced.

In response to the ruling the British Horseracing Board has commissioned an independent review into the future funding of racing. I welcome this review and look forward to seeing its conclusions and the views of the BHB, the Levy Board and the Association of British Bookmakers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will amend the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 to allow flood-lit all-weather horse racing. [209381]

The Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 includes no prohibition on flood-lit all-weather horse racing. However, it does prohibit the late-night opening of Licensed Betting Offices (LBOs) during the winter season.

The Gambling Bill will repeal the 1963 Act and will not seek to replicate any provisions relating to LBO opening hours, which will in future be determined by the local licensing authority following guidance from the Gambling Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the contribution the Lottery has made to combating (a) social exclusion and (b) financial exclusion in Sunderland; and if she will make a statement. [209535]

Lottery distributors are required to take into account the need to reduce economic and social deprivation in making awards. It can be difficult to determine precisely the extent of their contribution to reducing social and financial exclusion but a significant number of Lottery-funded projects have helped to regenerate inner cities, create employment and strengthen communities. Since the Lottery began there have been 240 awards made in the constituency of Sunderland north totalling £24.1 million. In the local authority area of Sunderland, there have been 721 projects totalling £69 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of National Lottery Funding for sport paid through Sport England is available for open bidding in 2004–05; and what estimate she has made of the cash value of National Lottery Sports funding made available through Sport England that will be available for open bidding in 2005–06. [208420]

holding answer 17 January 2005

Sport England budgeted to make award commitments of £148.4 million in 2004–05. Of this £71.1 million—equivalent to 48 per cent.—was budgeted to be available through open application. Sport England's current estimated awards budget for 2005–06 includes £42.5 million which would be available through open application. The budget for 2005–06 has not yet been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by her Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year. [207640]

I am arranging for copies of a document listing the(a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

How much the Department spent on each title in each year can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Department's total spend on(a) newspapers and (b) periodicals (excluding yearbooks and directories and including magazines) in each financial year since 1997–98 is shown in the table.

£

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many car parking spaces are provided for those (a) working in and (b) visiting her Department. [208973]

The Department has four premises in London and provides a total of 10 car parking spaces, five of which are for Ministers and Permanent Secretary and two for registered disabled employees. The remaining three spaces are available to visitors and contractors and, exceptionally, staff. Two other spaces were converted to bicycle racking during 2004–05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the £750 million for school sport announced by the Prime Minister in 2000 has been (a) pledged and (b) spent. [209128]

holding answer 17 January 2005

£598.6 million of New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) funding has been committed to date for over 2,000 facilities, with £59 million drawn down by local education authorities.

80 per cent. of NOPES funding has now been committed, well ahead of schedule and we anticipate that the great majority of new facilities will be in use by spring 2006, in line with the original timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the people working within her Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given. [208631]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not currently have any people working on secondment from the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [209584]

The Department's expenditure on advertising staff vacancies in(a) 2002–03 was £59,922 and (b) 2003–04 was £51,349.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the population works in the tourism industry. [208432]

As at June 2003 there were 2.2 million people working in the tourism-related industries in Great Britain.¹ This represents nearly 8 per cent. of the total working population.

¹ Tourism employment estimates are regularly published in the National Statistics series 'Labour Market Trends'.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue tourism earned in 2004. [208433]

Figures for tourism revenue in 2004 are not yet available.

The table shows the components of tourism revenue in the United Kingdom each year up to 2003.

£ billion

⁽⁴⁾ International Passenger Survey

⁽⁵⁾ Estimates based on National Statistics balance of payments

⁽⁶⁾ UK Tourism Survey

⁽⁷⁾ DCMS estimates based on Great Britain Day Visits Survey 1998 and 2002

⁽⁸⁾ UK Tourism Satellite Account estimate for 2000 with forward projection

Provisional figures for expenditure by overseas tourists will be released on 9 February. Figures for domestic tourism expenditure are scheduled for release in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the public funding of the waterways museums at (a) Gloucester Docks, (b) Stoke Bruerne and (c) Ellesmere Port. [209275]

From 1999 to 2004 these museums received over £300,000 from the Designated Challenge Fund, run by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council on behalf of the Department. Central Government have only ever directly sponsored and funded a few institutions—mostly the major, long-established national museums set up by statute. Our remaining resources are committed to the Renaissance in the Regions programme, a major initiative that provides significant development funding for regional museums across England.

To ask the Prime Minister

(1) what guidance he has issued to civil servants regarding providing public information on the constitutional treaty for the European Union; [208540]

(2) what guidance he plans to issue to the civil service on its role prior to and during the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union; [208541]

(3) what guidance he plans to issue to special advisers on their role prior to and during the proposed referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union; [208542]

(4) what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary regarding the role of the civil service prior to and during the referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union. [208543]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee. [209570]

The report on the Organisational and Performance Review of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was published on 2 December. Defra and the other funding departments are considering the recommendations in the report and aim to reach a decision shortly.

AEBC members considered the review at their last meeting on 9 December. They agreed with the review's main recommendation: that the AEBC should be wound up. At the meeting Malcolm Grant said that he would put a note to the Government summarising Commission members' views on the review and the way forward. We look forward to receiving this shortly and indeed any views that individual members would wish to put to us.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of the Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Committee. [208805]

holding answer 17 January 2005

The report on the Organisational and Performance Review of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was published on 2 December. Defra and the other funding departments are considering the recommendations in the report and aim to reach a decision shortly.

AEBC members considered the review at their last meeting on 9 December. They agreed with the review's main recommendation: that the AEBC should be wound up. At the meeting Malcolm Grant said that he would put a note to the Government summarising Commission members' views on the review and the way forward. We look forward to receiving this shortly and indeed any views that individual members would wish to put to us.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of UK carbon emissions resulting from electrical appliances being left in standby mode in the last year for which figures are available. [208190]

The Government's Market Transformation Programme estimates that consumer electronics, home computing equipment, domestic cooking equipment and office equipment left in stand-by mode produced approximately 650,000 tonnes of carbon (c6.7TWh) in the UK in 2003.

We are also aware that there is further energy consumption, for which we do not have firm estimates at present, from washing machines and dishwashers which are switched on awaiting use or after they have completed their wash cycles; consumer electronic equipment using external power supplies (e.g. domestic portable telephones) that continue to consume energy when plugged in but not in use; and domestic personal computer equipment where the stand-by facilities are not properly enabled. Taken together, these sources of consumption may bring the overall figure to around one million tonnes of carbon.

In order to try to tackle this problem the Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) has been encouraging manufacturers to reduce both the "on" and the stand-by power consumption of household appliances through the adoption of design improvements, voluntary codes of conduct, and best practice guidelines and targets. This approach has been fairly successful in respect of televisions: an EU-wide voluntary agreement will mean that the majority of new televisions sold in the UK now consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models. Discussions are now under way to extend this agreement to cover other consumer electronics.

A similar agreement for external power supplies aims to encourage new power supplies consuming around half a watt in stand-by mode compared to the present average of just over 2 watts.

In addition, the Government's initiative on sustainable procurement, announced last autumn, includes a requirement for Government Departments which purchase computers and televisions to specify low stand-by power requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the national carbon dioxide reduction goal for 2020 referred to in the final paragraph of page 3 of the review of the climate change consultation paper is. [208195]

As we set out in the 2003 Energy White Paper, one of the four goals of our energy policy is to put ourselves on a path to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, with real progress by 2020.

We estimated then that, on the basis of our current policies, including the full impact of the Climate Change Programme, our carbon dioxide emissions might amount to some 135 MtC in 2020. The Energy White Paper said that, to be consistent with demonstrating leadership in the international process, we will aim for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 15–25 MtC below that by 2020, which would put us on a course to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the projections arrived at by the UK Climate Impacts Programmes. [208332]

In 2002, the Department published new Climate Change Scenarios in support of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP). The scenarios were prepared by the Tyndall and Hadley Centres under contract to the Department and used the Hadley Centre's high resolution regional climate change model. They represented a significant step forward in providing a basis for assessing the potential impacts of climate change in different parts of the UK during this century.

The scenarios indicate that it is likely that:

UK annual average temperatures will rise by between 2 and 3.5 degrees Celsius by the 2080s;

High summer temperatures will become more frequent and very cold winters will become increasingly rare;

Winters will become wetter and summers may become drier everywhere;

Snowfall amounts will decrease throughout the UK;

Heavy winter precipitation will become more frequent;

Relative sea level will continue to rise around most of the UK's shoreline, with the South East expected to see the largest increases of between 26 and 86 centimetres by the 2080s;

Extreme sea levels will be experienced more frequently.

These projections are based on four alternative scenarios of future global emissions of greenhouse gases and as such capture some of the uncertainty that surrounds our ability to predict future climate. However it is recognised that projections of climate change, especially at the regional level, are also subject to modelling uncertainties which are the focus of current research. Nevertheless the UKCIP scenarios provide a scientifically robust indication of the general trends in climate that are expected and a useful basis for assessing the potential risks and opportunities of climate change.

Further information is available in the full report in the Libraries of both Houses. The reports can also be found at www.ukcip.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the (a) Ministry of Defence and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the impact of climate-based conflict, with particular reference to Darfur. [206808]

The Department has been engaged in the preparatory work for a study on countries at risk of instability being undertaken by the Prime Minster's Strategy Unit, which identifies climate change as one of a range of threats to stability.

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

(1) what advice she has received from the scientific community regarding the cessation of the compilation of Dobson Photospectrerra data from Camborne; [207984]

(2) what consultation she undertook before stopping research into ozone depletion at Camborne Meteorological Office; [207985]

(3) for how many years the UK Government has collected data using the Dobson Spectrerra; [207986]

(4) what analysis has been done of the data collected by the Dobson Photospectrerra; and if she will make a statement; [208092]

(5) what representations she has received about the discontinuance of the collection at Camborne of data concerning ozone levels; [208100]

(6) what steps she is taking to collect data in the south-west of England about ozone depletion. [208101]

The Government are satisfied that the current arrangements for collecting ozone data are more cost-effective than those applying previously, and meet scientific and public information needs.

The Met Office, for the UK Government, has collected Dobson Photospectrometer data since 1957. Measurements at Camborne were taken between 1957 and 1967 and then between 1989 and 2003. In the intervening period, measurements were taken at Bracknell, near Reading. There have been continuous measurements at Lerwick since 1957.

Ozone measurements are also available from satellites and give complete coverage for the UK, although a few local measurements in an area the size of the UK are needed to calibrate the satellite data and to provide long-term data for analysing trends.

At the renewal of the monitoring contracts in 2003, bidders were asked to propose a rationalisation of both the ozone and ultra-violet radiation (UV) monitoring networks. Following an analysis of network requirements, provided by Imperial College, it was decided to move measurements of ozone from Camborne to Reading, for the following reasons:

There was a long record of UV measurements at Reading and co-location of the ozone and UV monitoring sites in the south was deemed to be useful.

Ozone measurements had been made at Bracknell, near Reading, previously.

Ozone measurements were also made in Valentia, Ireland, and that would be sufficient information, together with Reading, to provide cover for south west England.

A separate formal consultation was not undertaken but was not considered necessary as the open tender process, which included key players in ozone monitoring, sought guidance on the monitoring requirement.

The Met Office expressed the view to Defra that the measurements at Camborne should have been continued; but Defra, in reviewing all of the advice it had received, concluded that on balance relocation to Reading was the best option.

The daily ozone data are analysed on a weekly basis, and the results, including those covering the south-west, are placed on a publicly accessible website (http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ozone/). The record at Lerwick over the last 30 years shows a decreasing trend in overall ozone levels. However, there is some indication of ozone recovery in the last 10 years at both Lerwick and Camborne. If any short-term low or high ozone events occur, further analysis is carried out to ascertain the causes. Records are sent to international data centres where they are made available for studies to identify global ozone trends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether a high level of protection and improvement of the environment as required by Article 1–3(3) of the proposed EU constitution has been attained by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other EU member state. [208250]

Article 2 of the existing Treaty establishing the European Community sets the promotion of a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment as one of the tasks of the EC. Similarly, Article 1–3(3) of the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union sets working for the sustainable development of Europe as one of the objectives of the EU, with a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment as one of the bases for this. The UK welcomes this. The environment is an area where considerable progress has been made by EU member states working together.

In relation to work in the UK, on 8 December 2004, Defra published its five year strategy, "Delivering the Essentials of Life". This sets out Defra's achievements, vision and plans for work over the coming years.

At EU level, the sixth Environmental Action Programme, adopted in 2002, set out priority areas for work over a 10 year period; work on more detailed thematic strategies covering key areas is in progress, and these are due to be published by the European Commission in 2005.

Assessment of the state of the environment in other member states is a matter for those states, and for relevant EU institutions such as the European Commission, European Environment Agency (EEA) and Eurostat where collating such information lies within their remit. The EEA's "Kiev report" published in April 2003 provides an in-depth report on the state of the environment in Europe. The documents referred to can be found in the Library of the House.

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

(1) on what date (a) it was decided to establish the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service, (b) the service began operations and (c) the services will be fully operational; [208341]

(2) what the relationship is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service with other Government agencies with overlapping functions; and if she will make a statement; [208342]

(3) what the command structure is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service; and which official from her Department heads the service; [208343]

(4) how many staff are employed in the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service, broken down by (a) permanent employees, (b) temporary staff and (c) contractors; [208344]

(5) what the (a) remit and (b) budget is of the Government Decontamination and Recovery Service. [208345]

As I announced on 25 March 2004, the Government are actively considering setting up a decontamination and recovery service. Progress has been made and the Government expect to make a further announcement on 25 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts the UK is making within the EU to ensure that those EU countries that are off-target with their Kyoto commitments make better progress to meet their commitments; and if she will make a statement. [207213]

Demonstrating progress towards the EU's Kyoto Protocol target of a 8 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 will be a priority for the UK's presidency of the EU later this year. We are taking every opportunity to raise the issue in discussions with other member states, and stressing the importance of implementing measures to meet their commitments. We will also press for harmonisation across member states with respect to the scope of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for Phase 2 (2008–12).

The latest emission projections from member states suggest that a combination of existing domestic policies and measures, additional policies and measures which are already in an advanced state of planning, and emission credits gained through the Kyoto Protocol's project-based mechanisms will deliver a total EU-15 emissions cut of 8.6 per cent. by 2010. We will continue to review and monitor progress towards this goal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for consultation on model dog control offences; who will be consulted; and if she will make a statement. [208347]

We will consult all interested parties on the relevant regulations. The timing of the consultation will depend on the outcome of Parliament's consideration of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill and when that consideration is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide guidance to local authorities about (a) the circumstances under which dog control orders should be used and (b) the provision of an appeals mechanism in respect of such orders. [208348]

Detailed provisions on dog control orders made under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill will be set out in regulations, and we will also issue guidance to local authorities on the use of these orders.

There are no provisions in the Bill for appeal against a dog control order, as the intention of the Bill is to simplify procedures for introducing local measures on dogs, allowing controls on dogs to be decided at the local level in light of local circumstances. There will be a requirement for full local consultation before a dog control order is made, and general judicial remedies such as judicial review will continue to be available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to update advice to (a) farmers, (b) market gardeners and (c) other users of organophosphate pesticides in the light of the findings of the Department of Health's advisory committee on carcinogenicity relating to links between prostate cancer and these substances. [208165]

The Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) has primary responsibility for providing advice to the Government on any new evidence which may affect the risk to those who use pesticides. At its meeting on 13 January the ACP considered the Report of the Department of Health's advisory Committee on Carcinogenicity relating to the link between prostate cancer and pesticides.

The ACP concurred with that committee's view that there is some limited evidence to suggest an association between farmers/farm workers, exposure to pesticides, and increased risk of prostate cancer, but noted that this limited evidence did not prove a causal link between pesticide use and cancer. The ACP also agreed with the conclusion that the potential association between herbicide use and cancer in farmers and farm workers should be kept under review. Organophosphate pesticides were not identified in the report.

In addition, the ACP is advising that a study be put in place to look at workers involved with pesticide manufacture.

I will carefully consider the advice given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the report of the review of the scientific literature on links between Parkinson's Disease and pesticide exposure (PS2601), funded by her Department. [208724]

The full report by the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health: Pesticides and Parkinson's Disease—a critical review (PS2601) has been completed. In line with Defra procedure the report will be published through a peer reviewed journal. Publication is anticipated by the middle of this year. A summary report can be found in the 'Research' section of the Defra website. http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/project_data/DocumentLibrary/PS2601/PS2601_1948_FRP.doc

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levels of (a) urban, (b) rural and (c) total concentrations of low-level ozone were in each year since 1997. [208192]

The concentrations of ground-level ozone between 1997 and the end of 2004 are given in the following tables 1 to 4. Data are provided as both annual average of maximum daily eight hour means and as annual averages, for all UK non-roadside urban, all UK rural and all UK non-roadside monitoring sites operating in the year concerned. Changes in the number of sites in the network in different years may alter the comparability of years. Data from 2004 are provisional. The raw data from all the sites underlying these tables are published on the National Air Quality Information Archive website www.airquality.co.uk as it is collected.

Table 1: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK non-roadside urban sites operating in the year -- All UK urban (non-roadside) sites

Table 2: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK rural sites operating in the year -- All UK rural sites

Table 3: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for all UK non-roadside sites operating in the year -- All sites (total)

Table 4: Annual mean and annual average of daily maximum eight hour mean ozone concentrations for Lullington Heath a rural site -- Lullington Heath

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets for waste recycling she has set for (a) Cumbria county council, (b) Allerdale district, (c) Carlisle city council and (d) Eden district council. [209460]

In 2005–06, Cumbria county council has a Statutory Performance Standard requiring it to send for recycling or composting 21 per cent. of the total tonnage of household waste collected by its constituent waste collection authorities and at its civic amenity sites.

In the same year, Allerdale district council, Carlisle city council and Eden district council have Statutory Performance Standards which require them to send for recycling or composting 18, 30 and 24 per cent. respectively of household waste collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance her Department is making available to (a) Cumbria County Council, (b) Allerdale District, (c) Carlisle City Council and (d) Eden District Council to assist with meeting recycling targets. [209461]

The main source of funding for the above councils is through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services including recycling.

In 2003–4 the Carlisle/Eden Partnership were awarded £1,155,035 from the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. In the same year Allerdale Borough Council received £424,665. Allerdale Borough Council received a further £597,116 from the fund in 2004–5.

To relieve spending pressures in the waste area authorities received the following amounts in 2004–05:

In 2004–05, Cumbria County Council received 143,361 in direct consultancy support through Defra's Waste Implementation Programme to undertake a county wide waste composition analysis. In the same year, Allerdale District Council received £18,275 to review their strategic planning for waste management, and Eden District Council received £12,800 for work looking at preventing commercial waste from entering its domestic waste stream.

The Government has also announced a three-year targeted local authority Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant totalling £260 million A full list of the allocation to each authority in England in 2005–06 has been published. As part of this allocation authorities will receive the following amounts:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sewage was discharged into the (a) Severn, (b) Yorkshire Ouse, (c) Humber, (d) Mersey, (e) Aire, (f) Avon, (g) Tyne, (h) Trent, (i) Dee, (j) Great Ouse, (k) Wye, (l) Spey, (m) Nene, (n) Eden, (o) Ribble and (p) Tees in each month of the last four years. [208223]

The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the occasions on which the Thames Barrier has been closed in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate she has made of the number of occasions when it will be closed in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2050 and (d) 2100. [208191]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 April 2004, Official Report, columns 154–55W. The Environment Agency's estimates for future years remain as given in that answer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Government plan to release the Connexions End to End Review of Careers Education and Guidance; and if she will make a statement. [208815]

The findings of the End to End Review of Careers Education and Guidance (CEG) are being used to inform the development of the Youth Green Paper, and I expect the findings to be published alongside the Green Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she plans to take to reduce the funding gap between the college sector and the schools sector. [208184]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will revise the further education college sector's area uplift funding so that colleges in areas of lower funding in close proximity to areas of higher funding will be less disadvantaged in comparison to nearby colleges. [208186]

The area costs uplift is a feature of the Learning and Skills Council's funding methodology. As matters concerning the level and structure of the uplift relate to the LSC's operational responsibilities Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member providing the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (e) subsistence. [206475]

All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997. [206560]

All travel is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip. [206650]

All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2004–05 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.

The detailed information requested for the Department is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the use of telephones in his Department by members of staff for their own personal use for (a) domestic and (b) international calls; and if he will make a statement. [204730]

The policy on the use of telephones in the Department for Education and Skills by members of staff for their own personal use in respect of domestic calls is that only essential and genuinely urgent personal telephone calls are permitted (free of charge) providing that they are kept short. No other personal telephone calls are permitted from office telephones, other than through the use of a personal chargecard. The international dialling facility is barred and only enabled where there is a clear and justified business need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he has taken to ensure the telephones in his Department are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers. [204731]

In order to ensure telephones in the Department for Education and Skills are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers, international dialling is barred on the telephone system and enabled on an individual basis only where there is a clear and justified business requirement to use this facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the estimated cost to his Department is of unauthorised personal calls made by members of staff to (a) domestic and (b) international numbers. [204732]

In common with a number of Government Departments, The Department for Education and Skills takes a managed telephone service from OGC that is charged on the basis of each live extension that includes call charges. The Department has no visibility of call charges and therefore no costs are incurred in respect of unauthorised personal calls to domestic and international numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months. [206745]

The DfES regularly destroy records as part of proper records management policies. Overall, less than 5 per cent. of Government records contain historically significant information worth preserving—the rest are destroyed, and always have been. Paying to store outdated records which are no longer of any use, and which are not historically valuable, wastes taxpayers' money.

The DfES has an agreed contract for the collection and destruction of confidential waste in a secure manner, using staff and procedures accredited to British Security Industry Association standards, British Standards and/or European Standards as appropriate.

The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.

The Department has seen no reason to review its policy on shredding material during the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills

(1) how many representations have been made to her Department by schools on problems of drug use (a) on and (b) outside school premises in each of the last 10 years; [209108]

(2) how many notifications of illegal drug possessions by school pupils on school premises there were in each of the last 10 years; [209110]

(3) how many needle stick injuries have been reported from discarded needles in school grounds in each of the last 10 years. [209111]

Schools are not required to notify the Department and data is not collected on numbers of illegal drug possessions by school pupils or needle stick injuries in school grounds. The Department receives representations on a range of issues relating to drugs from organisations and individuals but data is not available in the form requested. We are committed to ensuring that good quality drug education is taught in schools and that schools are supported to respond appropriately to drug issues in schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months. [206744]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005. [206959]

E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures and the e-mail guidance available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf

Electronic records (including e-mails) which need to be retained are saved into the department's formal electronic record keeping systems or into the paper filing system. Those electronic records (including e-mails) which do not need to be retained are disposed of regularly. DfES are considering the introduction of a limit on the time that e-mails may be kept outside an official record keeping system before automatic deletion.