To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type; [205567]

(2) if he will list the property belonging to his Department that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article. [206367]

Items recorded by the Treasury as lost or stolen are listed in the Following table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) if he will list businesses and individuals entertained by him and his Department at public expense in the last 12 months; [209422]

(2) how much money his Department has spent on corporate entertainment in each of the last seven years. [209423]

In respect of the Treasury's spending on corporate entertainment, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr.Osborne) on 15 December 2004, . The details of the businesses and individuals entertained by the Department could be provided only at disproportionate cost, because this information is not recorded centrally in electronic form. All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting".Official Report, column 1084W

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which years since 1975 (a) interest rates and (b) mortgage rates have been lower than the current levels. [211010]

The Bank of England repo rate and the average mortgage interest rate reached their lowest points in 2004 and have remained below 1970s levels ever since.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 653W, on EU funding, what the sum total is to date in real terms that has not been signed off by the Court of Auditors, broken down by year; and what the UK percentage share of the total EU budget was for each year. [207112]

pursuant to his reply, 11 January 2005, Official Report, c. 440W

My earlier answer inadvertently contained some incorrect figures, for which I apologise. It should have read as follows:

The figures for the years 1994 onwards (when the annual Statement of Assurance was introduced), showing the total for each year and the sum total to date, and the UK's percentage share, are as follows:

22 April 2004 and the figures for the period 1999 to 2003 have been taken from this.⁽¹⁾Taken from data published in Table 1A of respective European Community Finances White Papers, less administrative expenditure (also less pre-accession aid expenditure in 2002). Latest White Paper (Cm 6134) (ISBN 0–10–161342–3) was published on

2Calculated from data published in European Commission Reports on the Allocation of EU Operating Expenditure.

It is important to note that the failure of any part of the Community Budget to gain a positive Statement of Assurance does not mean that the whole of that part of the budget was misspent. Rather, it means that the European Court of Auditors found a number of errors in the small sample audited in any particular year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the net UK contribution to the EU of returning structural fund expenditure to national control for the 2007–13 funding period. [209604]

holding answer 18 January 2005

The UK's proposals for reform of structural and cohesion funds for the period 2007–13 would not return structural fund expenditure to national control", but rather would focus EC funding on the poorest member states where it would have greatest effect, under an overarching EU framework.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Government support for the financial services industry in the last financial year. [210902]

The financial services industry is a vital sector for the UK economy, contributing over 5 per cent. of total output and generating a trade surplus of £15.6 billion in 2003. The Government recognise the importance of this sector and take steps to maintain their competitiveness, both domestically and internationally, through a number of different routes; including principally by building and maintaining an effective regulatory model, especially in view of initiatives under the EU's Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP); encouraging a skilled work force; and, by delivering a strong, stable macroeconomic environment. In this context, the Government are committed to a dialogue with the financial services industry to ensure that FSAP and other measures are implemented in an effective, proportionate and consistent way.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 986W, on parliamentary questions, if he will break down the estimated cost of answering a parliamentary question into its component elements; and which costs relate to staff time. [211449]

Staff salaries (excluding the costs of Ministers and their private offices) account for 85 per cent. of the estimated cost and other overheads the remaining 15 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many patients have died in psychiatric hostels in the west midlands in each of the last three years. [210798]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 27 January 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many patients have died in psychiatric hostels in the West Midlands in each of the last three years. (210798)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. Figures showing deaths of patients in psychiatric hostels are not separately available. Available figures are for deaths occurring in psychiatric institutions. Figures for the years 2001 to 2003 are given in the attached table.

Deaths in psychiatric institutions, West Midlands, 2001–03^(2)(3)(4)

⁽²⁾ Psychiatric institutions were defined as NHS and non-NHS psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units and psychiatric security hospitals.

⁽³⁾ Deaths to residents of West Midlands Government office region.

⁽⁴⁾ Figures are for deaths occurring in 2001 to 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the total levels of spending on (a) the national health service, (b) education and (c) the criminal justice system in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. [211054]

Total UK public spending on the national health service, education and criminal justice system, in 1997–98 and 2003–04, the latest outturn year, is shown as follows in real terms (2003–04 prices).

Source:

Based on National Statistics release of 2 December 2004 (Pn 99/04) and latest GDP from 23 December 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how much red diesel was consumed in each month since the fuel duty rate provisions set in the 2003 Budget took effect; and if he will make a statement; [211399]

(2) how much red diesel has been consumed in each month since the introduction of new fuel duty rates on 1 September 2004; and if he will make a statement. [211400]

Hydrocarbon oils clearance figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin, a copy of which can be found on the UK Trade Information website www.uktradeinfo.com.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what his target differential is between the prices of red diesel and road diesel; what further increases in duty levels he expects to make to meet this target; and when he expects that the target will be met; [211401]

(2) what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the recent rise in the duty on red diesel on (a) farmers, (b) the boating industry and (c) the plant industry; and if he will make a statement. [211402]

Oils fraud has significant Exchequer costs. The narrowing of the duty differential is one component of a wider fraud strategy and there is no target rate. Decisions on duty rates are taken on a Budget-by-Budget basis by the Chancellor, who takes account of all relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. Decisions on duty rates will be set out in the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the level of unemployment has been lower in any year since 1975 than the current level of unemployment. [211009]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 27 January 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about levels of unemployment since 1975. (211009)

Consistent series for unemployment since 1971, based on International Labour Organisation definitions, show that since 1975, unemployment has been lower than its current level of 1,400,000 on seven occasions. In date order, these were:

Based on the same source, the unemployment rate has been lower than its current level of 4.7 per cent. on only one occasion. This was in the three months ending September 2004, when the rate was 4.6 per cent.

These estimates are based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimates from 1992 are taken directly from the LFS, whilst figures prior to 1992 are modelled estimates consistent with the post-1992 LFS data. The LFS is a sample survey and, as with any statistical sample survey, results are subject to sampling variability.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in the Nottingham, North constituency (a) in June 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available; and how many of each were young people. [211013]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 27 January 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Nottingham North Parliamentary Constituency. (211013)

The attached table (1), gives estimates of the total number of unemployed people who were resident in the Nottingham North Parliamentary Constituency, for the twelve month periods ending February 1998 and February 2004, the most recent available period. The table also shows the number of those who were aged 16–24 years old.

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

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. The attached table (2) gives the total number of claimants and those aged 18 to 24 years old, resident in the Nottingham North Constituency claiming JSA benefits in June 1997 and December 2004.

Table 1: Unemployed people resident in the Nottingham, North parliamentary constituency

⁽⁵⁾ 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.

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Nottingham, North parliamentary constituency

⁽⁶⁾ Computerised claims only; not seasonally adjusted.

Source:

Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from VAT on (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco in each of the last five years. [211286]

Tobacco and alcohol duty revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Tobacco and alcohol fact sheets, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and from Customs' website at www.uktradeinfo.com

HM Customs and Excise do not collect data on VAT from individual goods or services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. [202412]

For details of the cost of ministerial travel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 January 2005, Official Report, columns 85–86W, by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

The cost of taxis used by the Department in 2003 was £87,254.42, and in 2004 was £58,810.33. These figures refer to the central Department only, excluding the Agencies who do not record taxi costs separately. The information for the agencies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the full rollout of the computerised MOT system began on 29 November 2004 as scheduled; what the projected date of completion of the rollout is; and if he will make a statement on (a) liability to penalties for delay to the rollout of the computerised MOT system incurred by Siemens Business Services (SBS) and (b) penalties issued to SBS by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. [211087]

The MOT computerisation programme did not roll-out as scheduled on 29 November 2004. Following the first phase of trials at MOT stations, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Siemens Business Services have agreed to make further changes to trials and roll-out plans before moving to the final phase of trials at MOT stations. Consequently, the new service will be trialled over a longer period (10 weeks) and installed at a larger number of sites (4,000) before moving to live running. VOSA has always made it clear that the system will only go live when it is satisfied that, in all respects, it will provide a robust and effective service. In this we have the garage trade's full support. The final phase of trials will start on 7 February 2005 and we expect the system to have been installed at all MOT garages by end October 2005.

Liability issues being discussed with Siemens Business Services are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow community rail partnerships to have powers to re-open dismantled railway lines and operate the railway; and if he will make a statement. [210678]

I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Charlotte Atkins) during the Adjournment Debate on the Colne to Skipton Railway line" on 12 January 2005, Official Report, column 132WH.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what criteria he uses to determine whether a road has (a) national and (b) regional significance; [208215]

(2) whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have visited Hindhead to assess the proposals for the A3 Tunnel; and what factors led him to decide that the A3 between Portsmouth Harbour and London did not have national significance. [208217]

The Government's consultation paper—Devolving Decision Making: A Consultation on Regional Funding Allocations"—set out our proposals to establish regional transport funding allocations. The consultation paper explained that funding decisions on routes of national and international significance would continue to be made on a national basis. To be regarded as such, a route has to satisfy all of the following criteria:

To have average daily traffic flows, along the length of the route, of more than 60,000 vehicles

To link at least two of the top 20 English cities by population; or link one of the top 20 cities with an airport/seaport or Wales/Scotland

To carry heavy goods vehicle traffic equal to or in excess of 15 per cent. as a percentage of all traffic, as an average along the length of the route

To be represented on the European Union's trans-European transport network

In some marginal cases we applied these criteria with a degree of flexibility. However, the A3 satisfies just one of the criteria: it provides a link between London and the port of Portsmouth. Consequently, for the purposes of future regional decision-making, the consultation paper proposes that it should be regarded as a route of regional significance.

The current ministerial team and I have not visited Hindhead, but we appreciate that improvement of the A3 at this site will deal with a significant bottleneck. We have attached high priority to developing a scheme that will resolve the traffic problems while keeping to a minimum the impact on an area that is environmentally sensitive.

Draft Orders for the A3 Hindhead tunnel scheme together with Notices of Intention to grant exchange land certificates published by ODPM/DEFRA, were first published in October 2003. Revised proposals for part of the scheme were subsequently published in May 2004 and are currently being considered at a public inquiry, which started on 7 September.

The public inquiry has concluded much of its anticipated business but adjourned on 15 December until 15 February 2005 in order that the Inspector can hear reaction to further minor proposals that were republished on 17 December.

It remains our intention to implement the scheme at Hindhead, subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures including consideration of the Inspector's report and recommendations. However, in view of the cost of the scheme and available resources it has been necessary to programme it for implementation in the period beyond 2007–08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [209577]

The Department for Transport has only been in existence since May 2002.

The Department uses the most appropriate publication for recruitment advertising, be it national, regional, trade magazine or website, depending on the nature of the vacancy.

The following are details of the costs incurred by DfT (Central) for recruitment advertising below senior civil service, and the costs of advertising jobs at senior civil service level for all parts of DfT (i.e. including the Department's Executive Agencies).

Advertising costs for recruitment below senior civil service in DfT's Executive Agencies are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have been selected as transport pathfinders; what the objectives are of such schemes; and what the costs are of implementing them. [211308]

10 local authorities have been selected as transport pathfinders, these being the county councils for Devon, Durham, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex, along with Halton and High Peak borough councils, Nottingham city council and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

The scheme's objectives are to develop and disseminate good practice and innovation related to the shared central/local government priorities for transport—improving public transport and access to jobs and services, while reducing congestion, pollution and road safety problems.

The project is a partnership between the selected local authorities, the Local Government Association and the Department for Transport. The DfT is contributing 100,000, primarily towards disseminating the lessons learnt by the pathfinders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of uninsured motorists driving on public roads; and what this figure is as a percentage of all drivers. [210142]

Estimates from the Insurance industry are that about 5 per cent. (approximately 1.25 million) motorists drive while uninsured.

I commissioned Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University to carry out a review of motor insurance arrangements in the UK to see what could be done to tackle the problem. Publication of his report was on 11 August and we set up an implementation board in September to see that action follows.

Working jointly with the insurance industry we now plan to introduce legislation, improve procedures and design education, publicity and enforcement programmes to drive down uninsured driving.

These build on measures I announced last year to significantly tighten the vehicle registration and licensing system.

The first steps have already begun. Firstly the inclusion of a provision in the Road Safety Bill for improved Police access to the Motor Insurance Database; and secondly provision in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill of a power for the Police to seize vehicles being driven uninsured. Both will significantly improve the detection and enforcement capabilities of the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's latest estimate is of the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy to the average family per week in grocery prices; and what the cost was in 1997. [204463]

The consumer cost of the Common Agricultural Policy can be estimated by examining the difference between UK and world prices for agricultural food products. Our latest estimate for 2002 shows a cost of the CAP, to a notional family of four, due to higher food prices, of around £4.75 per week. Using the same methodology we estimate that the cost in 1997 would have been around £5.50.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the capacity the present economic value attributed to permits under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has to lead to environmentally beneficial changes of behaviour. [210850]

holding answer 25 January 2005

Allocations at the EU level are estimated to be approximately 50 million tonnes of CO₂ below the projected emissions during phase 1, on the basis of the national allocation plans agreed by the Commission so far. The prevailing permit price in the market could be interpreted to represent the abatement cost to achieve this level of emission reductions.

For the UK, analysis by the DTI of the power station sector indicates that, during phase 1 of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (2005 to 2007) reductions of around 4MtCO₂ per annum could be achieved at a carbon price of around €5 per tonne of CO ₂ . This price is lower than that which has recently prevailed in the market. It is possible however that there may be physical limitations on the amount of achievable savings in the near term.

It is possible that, in the longer term, emissions could be reduced by around 7MtCO₂ per annum at a carbon price of €10 per tonne CO ₂ .

The analysis suggests that the modelled responsiveness is very sensitive to certain background assumptions, including the assumed gas to coal price differential, as well as the price of carbon itself.

A summary of the analysis was published in November 2004 as part of a DTI report on Updated Emissions Projections. Carbon price analysis can be found at annex 7 of the report.

The report is available electronically: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep2004.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tenders were let by her Department to external suppliers in the financial year 2003–04; and what the value was. [209100]

From information held centrally, and for the financial year 2003–04, the Department let 761 tenders to external suppliers with a financial value of £296 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from what budget she plans to make good the shortfall between the compensation for the foot and mouth outbreak requested from the EU and the amount received in order to make the necessary compensation payments to farmers. [208106]

The control and eradication of foot and mouth disease in 2001 was paid for out of HM Treasury's reserve. The cost of lower than anticipated EU receipts will be borne by the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her officials have undertaken into the preparation and implementation of the 2004 German flood protection legislation. [210852]

holding answer 25 January 2005

My officials have not undertaken any direct research into the 2004 German Flood Control Act. However the Five-Point Programme, the framework upon which the legislation is based, adopts a similar approach to that taken in England on flood risk management. In particular:

Joint Federal Government/Lander flood defence programme.

This includes measures such as 'letting rivers spread out more' and controlling settlement development. In England we have recently consulted on a new strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management—'Making Space for Water', and have Planning Policy Guidance (PPG 25) to inform development decisions in flood risk areas.

Transnational Action Plans.

In particular this emphasises the need for flood defence measures to be progressed on a catchment area basis. Catchment Flood Management Plans are already well under way for the whole of England.

Progressing European co-operation.

The UK welcomes closer co-operation with Europe on such things as sharing information and best practice and undertaking joint research. Along with all member states, the UK adopted the European Flood Action Plan in 2004.

Immediate measures to improve flood defences.

The Five Point Programme includes a commitment to increase funding on flood defences, the appraisal of emergency planning arrangements and improved flood warning systems. Following the 2000 floods in England the Government increased funding significantly, from £310 million in 1996–97 up to a provision of £570 million in 2005–06; revised the Lead Department Plan on flooding and tested its effectiveness in June 2004 as part of Exercise Triton; and has recently approved the Environment Agency's new £226 million Flood Warning Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to seek to ban the use of antibiotics where the object is to promote farm animal growth. [210846]

Article 11.2 or Regulation (EC) 1831/2003 introduces a ban on the sale and use of antibiotic growth promoters from 1 January 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many oil-related pollution incidents have occurred in each year since 1995 that were caused by leakage or spillage (a) from domestic oil tanks and (b) on industrial, commercial, agricultural or institutional premises. [210633]

A table showing oil pollution incidents by premises type for the years 2001–03 is shown. Data for 2004 is not yet available and it is not possible to provide this breakdown for the period 1995–2000. However, overall figures for all oil pollution incidents show a significant decline since 2000 as follows:

Incidents in 2001 and 2002 where pollutant is Oils and Fuelsby premise type

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Minister of State for the Environment and Agri-Environment has visited the Bradford-based manufacturing facility of PM Group plc. [211203]

In the answer given to the hon. Member on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1678W, I noted that I had accepted an invitation to visit the PM Group plc's manufacturing facility. Owing to other commitments, that visit has not taken place. Instead, I will be meeting shortly in London, with representatives of the group for a demonstration of their waste weighing systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) local authorities and (b) other stakeholders on how to encourage businesses to recycle their waste. [210089]

Ministers hold regular discussions with local authorities and other stakeholders on the whole range of waste issues, including the recycling of business waste.

For example I recently met the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Packaging (a group representing the packaging industry) and representatives from material organisations, trade associations, packaging compliance schemes and individual businesses.

Currently, the Government are consulting on new draft guidance for local authorities on the preparation of municipal waste management strategies. This guidance makes clear that local authorities, in their role as community leaders, may be able to encourage more sustainable management of waste in other sectors and should consider, in drafting their strategy, where there may be benefits from aligning municipal waste management services with the treatment of waste from other sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department has taken to encourage the recycling of commercial waste. [210127]

The Government are taking a number of measures to encourage the recycling of commercial waste.

From 2005–06, landfill tax for active waste will increase by a minimum of £3 a tonne, to a medium to long-term rate of £35 per tonne. This will make recycling financially more attractive.

Additional revenue generated from the landfill tax will be redistributed to business through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme to encourage and support resource efficiency, waste minimisation and diversion of waste away from landfill.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) require producers to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste each year, so a significant amount of commercial waste is already being recycled to meet packaging targets.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) promotes resource efficiency, with a particular focus on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.

The forthcoming batteries directive will require all types of waste batteries, including those in the commercial waste stream, to undergo a recycling process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received advocating compulsory pre-stunning before any type of religious slaughter. [209744]

This is an issue in respect of which the Department regularly receives representations. Most recently, in response to consultation on the Government's draft response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter and killing, Defra received 26 responses advocating pre-stunning before all slaughter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department gives to abattoirs concerning stunning prior to religious slaughter. [209745]

The law permits animals to be slaughtered without stunning to provide food for certain religious communities. The Department does not provide specific advice to abattoirs. Guidance to Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVS) advises that, wherever possible, provision for stunning should be encouraged. This may be stunning before slaughter or an immediate post-cut stun. This guidance should be available to abattoirs through the OVS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals slaughtered for (a) halal and (b) kosher meat were not stunned in the latest period for which figures are available. [209746]

Information on the number of animals slaughtered for halal and kosher meat is not collected routinely. It has been gathered biennially by the Meat Hygiene Service on behalf of Defra, as part of the Animal Welfare Review.

The latest Animal Welfare Review was published in March 2004. The review reports on one week of slaughtering practices. In the period 1–7 September 2003, the following animals were slaughtered without stunning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what condition each site of special scientific interest (SSSI) was in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and what the total land areas of SSSIs was in each category (a) in England and (b) broken down by local authority area in each year. [208225]

The condition of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) is assessed not on a site-by-site basis but by each of the more than 22,000 management units into which they are divided. English Nature's first full condition assessment cycle was not completed until March 2003. The condition of SSSI land as recorded by the most recent assessments at that date and in March 2004 is shown as follows. A breakdown by local authority area is not available.

Area (hectares)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the work that her Department has undertaken on extending the powers of local authorities to allow the piloting of variable charging schemes for household waste collection and disposal as recommended by the Strategy Unit in the report Waste Not, Want Not. [211202]

The Department's work on variable household charging and household incentives for waste recycling and reduction is based on the body of existing, publicly available, research, supplemented by investigation into specific examples of such activity.

To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2005, Official Report, column 632W, on census records, if he will seek (a) the advice of the National Archives, (b) a legal opinion and (c) the advice of the Advisory Council on Public Records and Archives on how the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relates to the closure or release of decennial population census returns for England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [210742]

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into effect on 1 January 2005. The Act is still in the early days of implementation, and it is important that requests for access to information should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. I do not, therefore, intend to seek advice about its general operation in relation to decennial census returns at this time.

To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs if his Department will make an assessment of the data protection implications of the use made by supermarkets of data collected through loyalty cards. [211115]

The use of personal data obtained by supermarkets in loyalty card schemes is subject to the regulatory framework set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. If any person believes that their data are being used in ways which infringe the framework, they can apply to the Information Commissioner for an assessment to be made of the circumstances.

To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs what the reasons were for the decision not to make negotiation compulsory in disputes between divorced or separated parents. [210230]

The Government published Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities, Next Steps" on 18 January, which sets out plans to implement a range of measures to help separating parents in dispute about future parenting arrangements, reach agreement.

The Government's plans include improvements in the information available to parents and greater use of methods such as the Collaborative Law model, mediation, in-court conciliation and the Family Resolutions Pilot Project. The Government intend strongly to promote these methods as better ways to reach agreement than through contested court hearings. All publicly funded clients will have to show that they have considered mediation. Lawyers will not be funded by legal aid if out of court settlement is not reached under the collaborative law scheme. In addition, the Government, senior judiciary and Rules Committee plan to review court rules and practice directions so that the strongest possible encouragement is given to parties to participate in forms of dispute resolution.

We do not plan to make these schemes compulsory in every case, as an essential part of the process is that people come to them voluntarily and are therefore willing to participate. Further, in some cases, including those where domestic violence has been an issue, it would not always be appropriate to impose mediation on separating parents.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of preparations for the forthcoming elections in Iraq. [210906]

Both the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) and the UN remain confident that technical preparations are on schedule to meet the 30 January timing for elections. 111 groups, with over 7,000 candidates, are registered to contest the national elections. A further 12,000 candidates will contest the provincial elections.

Recent polling data indicates that the majority of Iraqis want to vote. Security for the elections will of course be vital. The IECI and the Iraqi authorities, with the multi-national forces, are working hard to ensure security in all areas to achieve the broadest possible participation.

To date, the IECI has accredited 12,400 Iraqi election observers to ensure that elections are free and fair. In addition, the International Mission for Iraqi Elections (IMIE), an initiative established by the Canadian Electoral Commission, will carry out a technical assessment of the elections.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Iranian Government and (b) North Korean Government on nuclear weapons. [210698]

holding answer 26 January 2005

I discussed a range of issues with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Kamal Kharrazi on 22 April 2004 including Iran's nuclear programme. I have had no contact with members of the North Korean Government.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that the standard assessment procedure for revised building standards accurately predicts carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will make a statement. [210887]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that the basis of the Standard Assessment Procedure and the data sets it calls for are as accurate as possible.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the compliance of house builders with the 2002 Building Regulations standards concerning energy efficiency. [211084]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned airtightness tests on 55 new dwellings built in compliance with the 2002 requirements and it subsequently received from The Energy Saving Partnership for Homes the results of a further 99 similar tests on other new dwellings. The results of these tests were unsatisfactory and reinforced more general concerns about compliance with the Building Regulations energy efficiency requirements. These influenced the proposals for further amendments published last July and the ongoing work on better guidance, dissemination and training for house builders and others.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what amendments have been made to the guidance contained in the Fire Service Circular No. 3/1995 since its publication. [211031]

No amendments have been made to the Home Office Guide To Fire Safety Planning And Management For Local Authority Fire Brigades", which accompanied Fire Service Circular No. 3/1995.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) fire certificates have been (i) issued and (ii)amended and (b) exemptions from requirement to hold a fire certificate have been granted under the terms and conditions of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 by each fire and rescue authority in England and Wales in each year since 1999; and how many applications for the (A)issue and (B) amendment of a fire certificate by each fire and rescue authority were outstanding on 31 December 2004. [211032]

The number of fire certificates issued under the terms and conditions of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 by each fire and rescue authority in England and Wales in each year since 1999 are tabled as follows:

Number of Fire Precautions Act certificates issued in 1999–2000 to 2003–04

Records are not kept of either amended fire certificates issued or outstanding applications for amended certificates. Any amended certificates issued are counted in with fire certificates issued. In respect of outstanding applications for amended certificates, there is no statutory requirement for owners/occupiers of certificated premises to apply for amended certificates. Section 8 of the Fire Precautions Act requires the owner/occupier to inform the fire authority of any material structural changes to the building. The fire authority then has a duty, if satisfied with the proposals, either to amend the fire certificate or issue a new one. If not satisfied, the fire authority must issue a notice of steps to be taken before amending or issuing a new fire certificate.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004 to come into force; and what guidance he has given to fire and rescue authorities regarding the proper discharge of their statutory duties to enforce the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 in the interim period before the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004 comes into force. [211033]

The decision on an appropriate date for the coming into force of the proposed Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order has not yet been taken.

The suite of guidance contained in Fire Precautions Act circulars stands good for the interim period. Supplementary advice on handling of applications for fire certificates has been issued, by the Chief Fire Officer's Association.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish his Department's five-year plan. [210634]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, published on 24 January 2005, Official Report, columns 22–40, the Government's five-year housing plan Sustainable Communities: Homes for All".

Next week my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will also publish a partner five-year plan Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity".

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years. [207827]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Leslie), on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 140W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on local authority street cleaning costs; what representations his Department has received on the subject; and whether new money will be provided to meet additional costs for local street cleaning services resulting from the implementation of the Act. [210687]

In response to concerns raised by a number of local authorities, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertook an assessment of the potential knock on effects of the then Licensing Bill, including additional street cleansing costs, in 2003. Despite consulting 18 local authorities, the Local Government Association and the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government, it proved impossible to produce robust evidence of any additional street cleansing costs. The available evidence was inconclusive on whether there would be an overall cost to local government. We continue to examine and monitor the situation.

During the recent discussions about the 2005–06 Local Government Finance Settlement, of the 233 representations received from local authorities, 21 made some reference to the impact of the Licensing Act. Representations about the costs to local authorities of the Licensing Act were also made during the Department of Media Culture and Sports consultation on licensing fees.

Funding for street cleaning is provided through the local government finance settlement. Total support from Government grant and business rates in 2005–06 will be £60.1 billion. That is £3.5 billion, or 6.3 per cent., more than in 2004–05. We believe that this substantial investment in local government and the scope for efficiency gains addresses the pressures faced by local government. There is no excuse for excessive increases in council tax.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the best value performance indicators (BVPIs) for each local education authority for 2003–04 will be published on the BVPI website. [211306]

The best value performance indicators (BVPIs) results for each local education authority for 2003–04 will be published on the BVPI website in early February.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether New Charter is providing an adequate service as agents for homeless people for Tameside Council. [210664]

New Charter is providing services for homeless people as agents for Tameside Council, who are responsible for monitoring the contract. I understand that the Council is satisfied that all the main aspects of the service specification are being achieved.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) registered social landlords and (b) those who fund them for greater freedom to raise rents. [210645]

In response to its three-year review of rent restructuring the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received a number of representations from registered social landlords and others such as the National Housing Federation. A summary of responses will be made available shortly.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many tenants in each local authority area have exercised their right to buy in each of the last three years; what revenue has thereby accrued to each local authority; and what proportion of the total in each year was used for (a) repairing and (b) building council housing. [210755]

Annual figures for council right to buy activity for 1999–2000 to 2002–03 by local authority are available from the Housing Statistics section on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's internet site. These tables show the number of right to buy sales and the average selling price excluding discount for each reporting local authority.

It is a matter for individual authorities to decide how to use the receipts they retain from right to buy sales in the light of local needs and priorities. Information on how local authorities chose to use the retained receipts from right to buy sales is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The web link for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 information on Right to Buy activity is: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentsservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=1680&l=4 [Housing—Housing Statistics—Publications—Local Housing Statistics—Annual Statistics]

The web link for 2002–03 information is: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_029535.xls [Housing—Housing Statistics—Live Tables—Social Housing Sales—Table number 648]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of (a) drafting, (b) publishing and (c) circulating (i) Working together—tackling not tolerating antisocial behaviour, (ii) One Year On—together tackling anti-social behaviour and (iii) central Government funding of voluntary and community organisations. [201038]

Officials from the Government's Antisocial Behaviour Unit drafted the two Together" reports published on 28 October 2004 as part of their daily duties. An estimate of £59,499 has been made for the drafting, publication and circulation for both reports.

The One Year On and Practitioners' reports have been distributed widely to key stakeholder groups and individuals throughout England and Wales. They were initially distributed at the One Year On event held on 28 October to an audience in excess of 600 people drawn from local authorities, community groups, members of the public, police, MPs, and antisocial behaviour practitioners. Since this time the reports have also been available online and downloadable from the website and have received over 1,270 individual hits.

Distribution to 6,000 individuals and groups from the range of key stakeholder groups including CDRP chairs, ASB Co-ordinators, Action Areas and Trailblazer representatives, and Together Academy attendees has also occurred along with individual mailouts upon request.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target time has been set for reaching an initial decision on (a) asylum and (b) non-asylum applications; and what percentage of cases were processed within these target periods in the last period for which figures are available. [206248]

The information is as follows:

(a) The Home Office's Public Service Agreement (PSA) target for 2003–04 was to ensure that 75 per cent. of new substantive asylum applications (excluding withdrawals and 3rd country cases) were decided within two months. This was an increase from the 65 per cent. and 60 per cent. targets met in 2002–03 and 2001–02 respectively.

The 2003–04 target was exceeded, with 82 per cent. of new substantive applications having an initial decision reached and served within two months. The speed of initial decisions continues to improve with 84 per cent. of substantive applications received in Q2 (April to June) 2004 having an initial decision reached and served within two months, and reflects the Governments commitment to, and continued success in, speeding up the initial decision-making process.

Information on the number of asylum applications outstanding, and the timeliness of initial decisions are published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

27 April 2004.(b) The internal target times for processing non-asylum applications have been revised in the light of the top to bottom review of managed migration routes announced on

The internal targets that have been set are for the whole period from 1 October 2004 to 31 March 2005 and are summarised in the table. The table includes provisional management information currently available on performance so far against those targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of Zimbabwean asylum seekers received (a) refugee status and (b) another form of protection from the UK Government in each quarter since 1997. [210513]

The tables show initial decision and appeal determinations by quarter, where available, for Zimbabwean asylum applicants, 1997 to Q3 2004. Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and appeal outcomes do not necessarily relate to initial decisions made in the same period.

Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication covering the fourth quarter of 2004 will be available on 22 February 2005 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Initial decisions on asylum applications, by quarter, 1997 to Q3 2004: Nationals of Zimbabwe⁽⁷⁾

n/a = not applicable.

⁽⁷⁾Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

⁽⁸⁾Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.

⁽⁹⁾Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre '96 act asylum backlog.

⁽¹⁰⁾May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.

⁽¹¹⁾May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.

⁽¹²⁾Annual data only available.

⁽¹³⁾Provisional figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department provides to its asylum officials regarding the grounds for granting refugee status to applicants who have fled persecution because of their homosexuality. [210708]

All caseworkers in the immigration and nationality directorate, who are responsible for considering asylum claims, are trained in the proper application of the 1951 UN convention relating to the status of refugees and the need to apply those principles to the circumstances of the particular case. All caseworkers have access to the Home Office asylum policy instructions, which are published on the Home Office website. Additional support is provided by senior caseworkers, who are on hand to give advice and to ensure that consistently high standards of decision making are maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training in sexuality issues his Department provides to officials who handle asylum applications based on persecution on the grounds of sexual orientation. [210709]

Asylum caseworkers undergo extensive training in the assessment of asylum claims made under the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees. This includes training in the interpretation of the five convention reasons, and specifically the definition of membership of a particular social group", which is relevant to many claims involving sexual orientation. Guidance on Membership of a Particular Social Group" and instructions on Assessing the Claim" are available to caseworkers in the form of the asylum policy instructions, which are published on the Home Office website.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the proportion of crime in Hartlepool linked to the need to support a Class A drug habit. [210643]

Recorded crime figures, which are used to measure the extent of crime in local areas, include statistics on drugs offences, such as possession, and on property crimes, such as burglary, but do not contain information on the offender's drug habits. It is therefore not possible to estimate the proportion of all crime in Hartlepool which is linked to the need to support a drug habit.

However, since April 2004 offenders in Hartlepool charged with certain trigger offences known to be commonly committed by drug users have been tested for opiates and cocaine/crack as part of the Drug Interventions Programme. Between April and December 2004 a total of 588 offenders were tested and just over half (55 per cent.) of them tested positive for opiates or cocaine/crack. This gives some indication of the proportion of property crime that may be linked to drug use, although it should be noted that not all crime by drug users is necessarily committed to support their habit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many conditional cautions have been issued to first-time offenders in (a) Hartlepool and (b) other drugs intervention programme areas since the programme was introduced. [210644]

There are eight early implementation areas for Conditional Cautioning. Two areas are currently operational (Lancashire and Redditch). Four conditional cautions have been issued, three of which were issued to first time offenders.

Hartlepool is not within an early implementation area for Conditional Cautioning, so no conditional cautions can be issued in Hartlepool.

The Drug Interventions Programme intensive" Early Implementation Areas for Conditional Cautioning which are aimed at drug misusing offenders, will become operational late January to March 2005. They do not include Hartlepool.