To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the Inland Revenue office at Alexandra House, Salisbury, when the lease on the building is terminated; and if he will make a statement. [213110]

The Inland Revenue are minor occupier to the Department for Constitutional Affairs. As major occupiers the Department for Constitutional Affairs have served notice to the Inland Revenue to vacate the property at the end of March 2006—this is in line with the terms of their legal agreement.

All possible options for relocation are being explored—as yet no decisions have been made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 at 2003–04 prices. [211700]

The Government have not estimated the cost of raising a child. Since 1997 the Government have radically reformed the way they provide support to families with children, driven by two principal objectives:

to support all families with children, recognising that families with children face additional costs; and

to deliver progress on its goal to eradicate child poverty, by offering greatest support to those most in need, while maintaining incentives to work.

From April 2005, this new system of financial support for families will deliver, through child benefit and child tax credit, a range of support from £17.00 to around £60a week, compared to a range of £11.05 and £28 a week in 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Greater London area have benefited from lower rates of corporation tax. [213385]

Nationally nearly 600,000 companies have a corporation tax liability each year. All will benefit from the cuts in the main, small and starting companies' rates of corporation tax that have been introduced in recent years. However, it is not possible to identify precisely those businesses that trade in specific areas such as Greater London.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster General will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey, dated 1 December 2004 on City Academies and VAT; and what the reasons are for the delay. [213171]

I have done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the rise in the cost of disadvantaged area relief from 2003–04 to 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [213181]

The published cost of Disadvantaged Areas Relief (DAR) is an estimate of the amount of relief claimed by taxpayers. It includes the likely effect of substitution of DAR for other Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) reliefs (such as Group Relief) and the claiming of DAR for transactions undertaken in earlier years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Inland Revenue in its discussions with Supporters Direct to provide guidance and dedicated support for Football Supporters' Trusts to set up charities or community amateur sports clubs to run their community activities, and to help them take advantage of the range of tax reliefs available to such bodies; and if he will make a statement. [213293]

The Inland Revenue has developed a draft package of guidance and support for Football Supporters Trusts. They have approached Supporters Direct and discussed this package and other issues with them, following up action points as well as agreeing to facilitate contact between Supporters Direct and the Charity Commission. The Revenue will continue to work closely with Supporters Direct to deliver the right support, in the right way, for Football Supporters' Trusts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual dwellings there are in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement. [213195]

As at 27 January 2005, there were 76,147 domestic dwellings in the Southend-on-Sea Billing Authority that have a council tax band placed upon them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of public funding required to finance private public partnership schemes (a) in each of the past seven years and (b) which are repayable in each of the next 15 years. [211713]

Estimated payments under PFI contracts in each of the past seven years and the next 15 years is publicly available information. This data can be found in previous Budget publications (available online at www.hm- treasury.gov.uk) and in my written minsterial statement of 2 December 2004, Official Report, column 43–4WS.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission a study into the viability of an excess profits levy on the profits made by banks, financiers and contractors on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts. [211567]

The Government are committed to achieving value for money from its PFI programme and keeps all aspects of the programme under review to ensure that this objective is being met. The Government have made clear that PFI should only be used where it is the appropriate to do so and where a full value for money analysis shows that it offers the best value for money in comparison with alternative procurement routes. This value for money analysis and robust competition in the bidding process, both of which were highlighted as key factors in the decision to use PFI in the value for money guidance issued by the Treasury last summer, ensure that the public sector pays a fair price for the services it receives from PFI projects and for the risks which the private sector bears.

There are no plans to commission a study into the viability of a special or additional levy on PFI and PPP contracts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Government Actuary's Department on the long-term cost of public sector pensions referred to on page 43, Box 4.2 of the long-term public finance report of December 2004. [212010]

This report will be placed in the Library by 22 February, together with a commentary which will explain the assumptions and techniques employed in compiling the report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerhow much has been spent by his Department in each year since 1997 on taskforces and similar bodies. [204713]

The costs are set out in the table.

£000

The Partnerships UK capital costs are the costs of the Treasury's holdings of £4.45 million of ordinary shares and £15.6 million of 6 per cent. loan stock.

The table excludes costs of the taskforces on Credit Unions, Modern Apprenticeships and Social Investment, which are not separately recorded.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are claiming working tax credit in each constituency in Northern Ireland. [211523]

Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits in each constituency in Northern Ireland appear in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004". This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in Northern Ireland failed to meet the 31 January 2004 deadline for return of Inland Revenue tax returns. [211891]

Information broken down by regions is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nationally 8,581,000 returns were received by the filing deadline out of an expected 9,474,000. This represents 90.6 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will equalise the rates of value added tax paid by colleges of further education with the rates paid by schools. [213068]

The rate of VAT on goods and services bought by schools and Further Education Colleges (FECs) is generally the same. However, FECs can in certain circumstances benefit from the zero rate for the construction of new buildings.

VAT incurred by FECs and schools is included in the funding they receive from central Government. In the case of FECs this is through their block grant funding, in the case of schools it is through the local government VAT funding mechanism.

There are no plans to change the VAT treatment of schools and FECs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations have (a) opened and (b) been re-opened since 1 May 1997. [211851]

Since 1 May 1997 12 new stations have opened and 16 stations have re-opened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on proposed new major road building in Essex. [211853]

We have recently announced the programme of major transport schemes which we propose to take forward in the East of England, including schemes on both the strategic and local road networks. A number of these schemes will benefit Essex.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the development of the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) in Greater Nottingham. [211854]

The Department has received a bid for the extensions and is working closely with the scheme's promoters on the procurement and financing aspects. Once the Department has considered fully all of the necessary information a decision on whether to provide approval in principle for the extensions will be made based on value for money, the wider benefits and affordability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for increasing the capacityof the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and20. [211855]

I launched a public consultation in July 2004 on an Expressway concept as an alternative to widening the M6 between junction 11a and 19. This consultation closed on 21 October. The responses are currently being analysed. When this is complete I will publish my response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve rail services on the Midland Mainline route. [211856]

The Midland Main Line/East Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy recently published by the Strategic Rail Authority will be used to inform the Invitations to Tender for the new Thameslink/GN and Midland Mainline franchise. Bids for the franchises will be require commitments on performance, train and crew reliability and operational viability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact the Strategic Rail Authority's proposals for the Gatwick Express will have on airport users. [211857]

The Strategic Rail Authority has considered the impacts on Gatwick airport users while developing the proposals in the Draft Brighton Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy. Representations from consultees on the subject of airport users will be taken into account while the Strategy is finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of the Traffic Commissioners and their accountability to local councils. [211852]

Traffic Commissioners are responsible for licensing operators of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles. They act in a quasi judicial capacity and are independent of central and local government. Local authorities have the right to object to applications for a licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Civil Aviation Authority has spent on defending legal actions against it from employees in each of the last five years. [213179]

The Civil Aviation Authority's costs in the last five years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons personal files held by the Civil Aviation Authority on its staff are not regarded as filing systems within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998. [213180]

Personal files held by the CAA on its staff are paper files containing various material, including sickness absence forms, pay review letters and correspondence with the Human Resources Department. The personal files relating to each employee are stored in reverse chronological order.

The personal files are not regarded as filing systems within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act") because they do not fulfil the requirements of being a relevant filing system" as defined in Section 1(1) of the Act. This definition is as follows:

any set of information relating to individuals to the extent that, although the information is not processed by means of equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose, the set is structured, either by reference to individuals or by reference to criteria relating to individuals, in such a way that specific information relating to a particular individual is readily accessible."

A searcher would be required to leaf through the documents in a personal file in reverse chronological order to find any particular information. Accordingly the personal files cannot be regarded as a relevant filing system" within the meaning of the Act.

The Information Commissioner has agreed with the CAA's view.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research the Government had carried out on (a) the extent of and (b) the safety implications of the use of mobile telephones by cyclists while cycling. [209599]

We are not aware of evidence specifically on cyclists and the safety of using mobile phones. But the Highway Code already tells cyclists to keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear. The police have powers under sections 28 and 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended, to deal with cyclists they consider to be riding dangerously, or carelessly or inconsiderately, through using mobile phones or for any other reason.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) how much has been spent by his Department on multi-modal studies since 1997; [212066]

(2) how many multi-modal studies have been commissioned since 1997; how many have been completed; and how many are still under way. [212100]

There were 33 multi-modal studies. 21 studies have been completed. On the final study, the A34 north from Southampton, we are currently considering the results of the scoping study before deciding what further work, if any, should be carried out. Since 1999–2000 financial year, the Department has spent approximately £33.5 million of expenditure relating to the Studies. No further such studies are planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers travelled on the railways in each year since 1990. [212114]

The information requested can be found in Table 1.2 of the SRA publication, National Rail Trends, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to require rolling stock leasing companies to cut the charges which they impose for leases on railway rolling-stock; and if he will make a statement. [211492]

Rolling stock leases are between two private sector companies, the rolling stock company and the train operating company. However, as set out in the Railways White Paper, because the Government pays for much of their cost through its funding of the rail industry, it is important to ensure that they represent good value for the taxpayer. The Department for Transport's proposals to secure best value from rolling stock leases are set out in the Future of Rail White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to establish a rail industry national archive; and if he will make a statement. [212203]

I have been asked to reply.

The National Railway Museum (NRM), a museum sponsored by DCMS as part of the National Museum for Science and Industry, plans to establish Search Engine", a Railway Industry National Archive at NRM in York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) what estimate he has made of the cost of disposing of unwanted assets of the Strategic Rail Authority when it is abolished; [212115]

(2) what budget has been allocated for redundancy payments connected to the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority; [212118]

(3) what budget has been allocated to meet costs arising from the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority. [212119]

It is not possible to give precise estimates of transitional costs at this stage. They will be met from the existing budgets of DfT and the SRA. In the longer term, the new arrangements for rail are expected to cost less than the present ones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) how many staff he expects to transfer from the Strategic Rail Authority to DfT-Rail; [212116]

(2) how many jobs he expects will be lost when the Strategic Rail Authority is abolished. [212121]

At present about 430 people work in the SRA and about 100 in the Rail Directorates of DfT. We estimate that the new DfT Rail Group will have some 250 to 300 staff and that some 50 or so other posts for which SRA staff will be eligible may be created in other organisations. It is not possible to say how many staff will transfer from the SRA to DfT since the new posts in DfT will be open to staff of both the SRA and the DfT Rail Directorates. It is not possible to say how many jobs will be lost because there will be a degree of natural wastage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what redundancy packages will be offered to staff at the Strategic Rail Authority who lose their jobs because of its abolition. [212120]

Any SRA staff made redundant as a result of SRA abolition will be offered packages in accordance with their existing terms and conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Harbour Revision Order put forward by trust ports will be subject to public inquiry. [213160]

Arrangements for any inquiries into these Orders will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the payment of a levy to the Exchequer when a trust port is privatised voluntarily. [213161]

No trust port has sought to submit a scheme for voluntary privatisation in the lifetime of the current administration. Should a scheme be submitted we would consider the level at which the levy should be set, in accordance with the Ports Act 1991, in the light of the circumstances of the case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination. [211861]

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 709.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with Lord Birt about policy co-ordination. [211862]

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr.Prisk) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 711.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination. [211863]

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 709.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the National Audit Office about the costs of separating his role from that of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. [211864]

None.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office

(1) what the job description is of Fiona Gordon, an employee of his Department; [213310]

(2) what (a) salary, (b) pension rights and (c) other benefits Fiona Gordon claims from his Department. [213327]

Fiona Gordon is no longer employed as a special adviser.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will remove restrictions on the wearing of the kirpan by Sikh employees and Sikh members of the public in Government buildings. [211294]

The Government are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and valuing diversity in the civil service, including recognising and respecting people's different religions or beliefs. Accordingly, there is no reason that Sikh civil servants or members of the public should not wear the Kirpan in government buildings, except in places where security policy dictates otherwise and similar items are also banned. In these cases, Departments will have arrangements in place for security storage where the Kirpan can be left during working hours.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) staffing and (b) running costs of the Regulatory Impact Unit was in the last year for which figures are available. [211896]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Ruth Kelly) gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Atlantic Biogeographical Region; what factors determine inclusion in the list set out in 2004/813/EC, L 387 volume 47 of 29 December 2004; what the purpose is of the list; what obligations are placed on the Government relating to the list; what impact it will have on sites of special scientific interest; what impact it will have on the operations of HM armed forces in the Salisbury area; what additional obligations arise for the management of named sites; what additional powers listing confers for the preservation of named marine habitats; and if she will make a statement on the application of listing of marine habitats to the Common Fisheries Policy. [211431]

The UK welcomes the European Commission's (EC) decision of 8 December 2004 to adopt the Atlantic Biogeograpical Region List of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) in accordance with article 4 of council directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (EC Habitats Directive). Sites are included on the basis that they meet the EC habitat directive's selection criteria (annex III of the directive) and are thus considered to be most in need of conservation at a European level. The list is required to enable member states to progress with the designation of these sites as special areas of conservation (SACs) and obliges them to implement appropriate conservation measures to manage and protect these areas if they have not already done so.

The adoption of SCIs and anticipated designation of SACs in England does not impose any additional obligations on the Government, competent authorities, landowners, fishery interests, HM armed forces or other stakeholders because the sites have, following amendments in February 2000, been subject to full legal protection under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Canadian Government on the recent BSE case discovered there. [211726]

holding answer 31 January 2005

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has had a number of technical discussions with the Canadian authorities but not specifically relating to the recent BSE case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application in the UK of Commission Decision 2005/13/EC, OJ L6 volume 48 of 8 January, with particular reference to (a) the UK border, (b) the status of Commission veterinary experts, (c) the cost of each expert and (d) the number of experts. [211426]

European Community import rules require all products of animal origin imported from third countries to enter the Community via specified border inspection posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary examination to ensure the import conditions are being observed. The system of veterinary examination is operated in the UK by local authorities and is monitored by Defra and the European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to ensure effective controls are in place. There are currently 29 BIPs approved to inspect animal products in the UK.

Commission Decision 2001/881 required that each BIP listed be subject to a yearly inspection by the FVO veterinary experts, unless reduced inspections to certain BIPs had been agreed by the Standing Veterinary Committee (now the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health).

Commission Decision 2005/13 amended Commission Decision 2001/881 and specifies that the frequency and scope of missions by the FVO to border inspection posts should be decided on the basis of risks to the animal and public health in the Community. Factors to be taken into account include patterns of trade in the Community, statistical data available under veterinary legislation, the results of previous missions by the Office, and any identified problem areas. The UK supports this approach.

Veterinary experts of the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) work to assure effective control systems and to evaluate compliance with European Union (EU) standards. The FVO does this mainly by carrying out inspections in member states. The veterinary inspectors employed by the FVO must have a degree or equivalent diploma and have a minimum of three years relevant experience.

We have no information on the cost of these experts as the costs of the inspection missions are met from EU central funds.

The number of staff working in the FVO has increased from 74 in 1997 to its present complement of 163. Of these, 81 are plant health and veterinary inspectors, who participate regularly in on-the-spot inspection missions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on entertainment by her Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation. [204343]

On each occasion Defra officials are required to consider carefully what form and extent of hospitality should be offered and if it can be justified. This is considered both by the host and the authorising officer, who have to bear in mind the need for economy and the limited funds available.

This will take into account the extent to which participation by representatives from a variety of organisations including business, voluntary organisations and local government assists the Department in forming and testing out policy as well as distances involved and inconvenience to most taking part.

The figures detailed in the following table includes a variety of forms of hospitality including events such as lunch provided for participants at Defra consultative events on farming issues, environmental issues and others of the many issues dealt with by the Department.

Examples include the event at which the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy was launched and a new delivery team headed by Sir Don Curry was set up.

The figure for 2001–02 provided is for a full year and includes three months of DETR expenditure from 1 April to 8 June when Defra was created. MAFF and DETR did not use the same chart of accounts to record expenditure. It was, therefore, necessary to carry out a mapping exercise to match up expenditure under the Defra structure.

Hospitality was not separately identified in the expenditure transfer from DETR and may have been absorbed in incidental codes. For the remainder of that year only £1,953 was recorded against Environment. This would suggest that there may have been some misunderstanding on coding within the ex-DETR directorates during the transition and initial months of Defra's existence.

The other factor that may have had an impact on the figures for 2001–02 was the foot and mouth crisis. The Department was very focused on dealing with this crisis and this would have reduced the number of events held where hospitality expenditure would have been incurred.

Hospitality costs 2001–04 (£)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases there were in each year; and what the costs were of each settlement. [206462]

The following reply is based on the assumption that this question is seeking information about amounts spent in relation to civil litigation.

Defra conducts the majority of its litigation in house with other cases being dealt with on its behalf by the Treasury Solicitor's Department and by external solicitors. Defra came into existence in June 2001 and therefore has no records prior to that date. Defra's centralised records since that date relating to the information requested show only the number of new files it has handled in each year. The information indicates the number of new files opened in each year is as follows:

This will usually correspond to the number of new actions/cases but not necessarily so. The number will include arbitrations and other ADR resolution and also claims which were resolved prior to the issue of proceedings and did not in the event proceed to court. Information about the number of actions is therefore approximate. Defra does not hold information in a centralised readily accessible format as to the number of settlements, number of court cases and the costs of each settlement, because collectively such information would involve disproportionate effort and it is not clear that it would help performance.

Treasury Solicitors have records for the number of files for matters concerning Defra on which they have worked in any one year and the total sums billed to Defra including disbursements. The figures for the number of matters do not represent new cases or even new files because it is only matters on which work has been done and so some new cases will be worked on in the following (and possibly subsequent) years. The figures are as follows:

Treasury Solicitors do not hold in centralised and readily accessible form information about the number of court cases and the costs of each settlement. To obtain this information would involve disproportionate effort.

Defra retains external solicitors to provide some litigation services. The same caveats as above apply in relation to the number of matters they have acted upon.

Firm 1:

The total number of matters they have acted upon for Defra for each year is:

The total legal fees paid to them for the period from 2002 to end September 2004 is: fees £4,252,987.50, disbursements £558,981.54, and VAT of £837,543.42 totalling £5,649,512.46.

Firm 2:

This firm has handled 23 matters for the Department since 2001. Its total fees as at December 2004 including disbursements and VAT amount to £2,043,309.

Firm 3:

This firm has handled seven matters for the Department since 2001. Its total fees to date amount to £1,029,341 plus disbursements of £48,752.67 and VAT of £188,491.36.

We do not hold centralised and readily accessible information about the number of court cases and the costs of each settlement in relation to the matters handled by the external solicitors. To obtain this information would involve disproportionate effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received about the effect of the recent proposal of the European Commission on cod stocks in the North sea; what expert advice she has received on the matter; and if she will make a statement. [211099]

holding answer 25 January 2005

The Commission published on 8 December 2004 its proposals for a regulation on total allowable catches and related measures for fishing in 2005. In relation to North sea cod, these proposals included maintaining the total allowable catch at the same level as 2004, a further strengthening of the days at sea rules and a series of closed areas in the North sea. fisheries Departments received numerous representations on the Commission's proposals from fishing interests, environmental organisations and others. The recently established North Sea Regional Advisory Council produced advice for the Fisheries Council on the proposal. The Government was also informed by advice from its fisheries scientists. At the Fisheries Council on 21–22 December 2004, the Commission withdrew its proposals for closed areas but secured agreement to a strengthening of the days at sea regime. The total allowable catch of North sea cod for 2005—which had been agreed in discussions between the EU and Norway—was confirmed at 27,300 tonnes, the same level as in 2004.

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

(1) what outbreaks of the Foot and Mouth virus have been identified by the Government as a possible common origin for the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK in February 2001 and the outbreak of September 2000 in South Africa; [208754]

(2) if she will publish the phylogenetic analyses on which her Department's report Origin of the UK Foot and Mouth disease epidemic in 2001 based its conclusions on the introduction of the Foot and Mouth virus into Great Britain; [208755]

(3) what phylogenetic evidence was used to support the conclusion of her Department's report Origin of the UK Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic in 2001 that the February 2001 UK outbreak and the September 2000 South African outbreak had a common origin as opposed to the South African outbreak being the origin of the UK outbreak; [208756]

(4) whether the Government has received evidence of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak isolate that has a closer phylogenetic relationship to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth in February 2001 in the UK than the outbreak of September 2000 in South Africa; [208828]

(5) what further analyses of the genome sequences of isolates from the February 2001 UK Foot and Mouth outbreak and the September 2000 South African Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks, and their likely origins, have been performed since the publication of her Department's report, Origin of the UK foot and mouth disease epidemic in 2001. [208837]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1669W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to appoint the Chairman and Board of the proposed new integrated agency for rural delivery. [211149]

We would like to appoint a Chair-elect and a Board-elect before the 'Integrated Agency' is formally vested to help guide the development of the new organisation. The timing of the appointment will be dependent on the legislative process for establishing the 'Integrated Agency' in statute. We intend to bring forward legislation as soon as practicable, and to publish a draft bill as an early step.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the effects on costs are expected to be from the proposed merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. [211150]

The Government announced in the 2004 Spending Review the Department's plan to generate efficiencies of £13 million a year by 2007–08 through the Modernising Rural Delivery Programme. Establishment of the Integrated Agency will generate efficiencies from a number of sources, principally reduced estates and staff costs from the merger of the three constituent organisations and the application of Gershon principles to deliver better value for money from back office services. These will contribute at least £6.5 million cumulative efficiencies by 2007–08 with further efficiencies in 2008–09 and 2009–10.

The total main investment costs required to implement the Modernising Rural Delivery Programme as a whole are estimated to be approximately £40 million. These costs are expected to fall in financial years 2004–05 to 2008–09. Of this, it is estimated that around £30 million will be needed for establishment of the Integrated Agency. There may also be an additional ongoing cost associated with providing common terms and conditions for staff in the Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the UK is making towards the target of 40 per cent. of materials for growing media and soil improvers being peat-free by 2005. [211219]

The 2001 survey monitoring the use of peat and alternative products for growing media and soil improvers in the UK showed that 37 per cent. of the total consumption of the supply of materials used as soil improvers and growing media was peat-free. In 1999, 32 per cent. was peat-free. A new survey will monitor the use of peat and peat free alternatives for growing media alternatives between 2005 and 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has for meeting the Government's target of 90 per cent. peat-free materials for growing media and soil improvers by 2010. [211220]

We are currently working to establish a stakeholder forum which we hope will contribute to the development of an action plan to achieve sustainable reduction in peat use in the UK. Although there have been delays in convening this forum, we hope to hold a first meeting in the first half of this year.

In addition Defra is sponsoring research through the Horticulture LINK and other programmes (for example WRAP) to develop sustainable growing media solutions for the horticulture industry with less reliance on peat use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government initiatives exist to promote the planting of trees; and what assessment she has made of the effect they have had on tree numbers. [211171]

New incentives to promote the planting of trees in England will be launched later this year. The Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) will combine and replace incentives for the establishment of new woodland that were available under the Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) and Defra's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS). Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme which is replacing Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes will build on past achievements by providing incentives for small-scale tree planting.

In addition to these England-wide schemes there are various regional and local initiatives aimed at increasing tree cover; notably the National Forest in the Midlands and the twelve Community Forest partnerships based close to urban areas.

Our target is to create 30,000 hectares of new woodland over the seven-year period, 2000–06, of the England Rural Development Programme. In the period 1 April 2000–31 March 2004, 24,198 hectares of new woodland had been planted with WGS and, where qualifying, FWPS support. The majority of trees planted under regional and local initiatives over the same period will have attracted WGS/FWPS support.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the running costs of each Select Committee of the House were in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what part of those costs were accounted for by (a) staff costs and (b) costs of publication and printing. [212144]

The Sessional Return (HC 1, 2004–05), published on 25 January 2005, gives a detailed breakdown of expenditure by each Select Committee of the House of Commons for Session 2003–04. Section10C gives financial information for financial year 2003–04 and Session 2003–04. The figures do not include accommodation and other centrally provided support costs.

Staff salary costs for the Committee Office in financial year 2003–04 were approximately £6.3 million. Several Committees are staffed from outside the Committee Office by staff who in many cases have other responsibilities, as set out at pages 362–63 of the Return.

Total printing and publishing costs in financial year 2003–04 were £1,599,696.95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08. [211677]

Summaries of Ministry of Defence expenditure on external assistance, of which external consultancy is a part, are available in the Libraries of both Houses for financial years 1996–97 and 2003–04.

Expenditure on External Assistance for FY 2004–05 is estimated to be in the region of £251 million.

The Ministry of Defence has not yet set formal budgets for FY 2005–06 to 2007–08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people working for the (a) Army Training and Recruiting Agency, (b) Duke of York's Military School and (c) Queen Victoria School are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of each agency were in each of the last two years for which figures are available. [211821]

There are 60 civilians working for the Army Training and Recruiting Agency in Scotland. Figures for the number of Service personnel working in Scotland are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Duke of York's Military School is located in Dover, Kent, and employs no personnel in Scotland.

The Queen Victoria School in Dunblane employs 70 staff in Scotland, all civilians.

The personnel costs of each agency for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 are found in the agencies' respective annual reports and accounts 2003–04, copies of which have been laid in the Library of the House and are available on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's latest published assessment is of the illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans; and if he will make a statement. [210319]

The Government's approach to the question of illnesses among veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict is science-based. To support this approach, we take expert independent scientific and medical advice on the complex and sensitive issues involved. We have invested £8.5 million on independent research projects investigating the concerns of veterans and our policy is to encourage researchers to publish results in the peer reviewed scientific press. Further details about published results are available on our website at: www.gulfwar.mod.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps will be taken to protect any human remains found on the wreck of HMS Sussex; if he will make a statement. [210910]

The Licence Agreement provides that if human remains are discovered they must be treated at all times with the utmost respect and sensitivity. The company is required to ensure that the activities at the site avoid the unnecessary disturbance of human remains and that, where possible, human remains are left in situ. If human remains are accidentally retrieved, the company is required to notify the Government's on-board representatives immediately. The further treatment of those remains will then be as directed by the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the (a) Regimental HQ and (b) individual Battalions of (i) Princess of Wales, (ii) Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, (iii) The Royal Anglian, (iv) Light Infantry, (v)Royal Green Jackets, (vi) Royal Gurkha Rifles and (vii)Parachute Regiments are based. [211251]

The information sought is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to preserve the Middlesex Regiment War Memorial and associated memorials when British Forces Post Office vacate Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill; and if he will make a statement. [211274]

The future of the Middlesex Regiment War Memorial and associated memorials, once British Forces Post Office vacate the site, is being considered in conjunction with the Local Planning Authority (and other bodies, including English Partnerships) as part of discussions to formulate a development framework for the site and its surrounds.

The Mill Hill Preservation Society have expressed an interest in purchasing the Inglis Barracks Officers' Mess and the immediate environs (including the gardens in which the Middlesex Regiment's War Memorial is located) for the benefit of the people of Mill Hill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on land mines and land mine clearance in the Falkland Islands. [200043]

I refer the hon. Member to the answergiven on 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 343W, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) soldiers are serving in the Ministry of Defence, broken down by (i) location and (ii) rank; and if he will make a statement. [201536]

I refer my hon. Friend to Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 9—Rank Structure of UK Regular Forces at 1 October 2004, TSP6—Global Deployment of Service Personnel at 1 October 2002 and TSP 10—UK Regular Forces Distribution Across UK at 1 July 2002.

These publications are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the Sixth Edition of the RAF Manual of Flight Safety, issued in March 1993, including annexes. [210620]

The Sixth Edition of the RAF Manual of Flight Safety, officially described as Air Publication (AP) 3207, was issued in March 1993. This was superseded by the Seventh Edition, issued in 1998, which was itself replaced by a Joint Service Publication (JSP) 551 in July 2003. It is likely that the Sixth Edition will have been subject to a number of amendments (effected by replacing loose-leaf pages) during its period of currency. It is therefore unlikely that we could reconstruct" the original version of the Sixth Edition, even if a copy of its later state were to come to light. All other copies have been destroyed in line with departmental procedure.

It is the nature of such documents that there is no reason for anyone to retain them once they have been superseded; perhaps more so once they have been replaced a second time. Therefore it is unlikely that any systematic search would reveal a copy of the Sixth Edition of AP 3207.

In the case of AP 3207 the organisation responsible for its production, the RAF Institute of Flight Safety, has itself been superseded by the Joint Service Defence Air Safety Centre" (DASC). We have asked the DASC whether they have a copy of the Sixth Edition, but the only version of AP 3207 they hold is a copy of the Seventh Edition, which had itself been subject to three sets of amendments before it was replaced by JSP 551. I am happy to place in the Library a copy of the Seventh Edition of AP 3207, should the right hon. Member consider it useful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have died in non-combat situations in Belize in each year since the garrison was first established there. [209659]

There has been a British military presence in one form or another in Belize (former British Honduras) since the late 17th Century. In modern times the Regular British Army went to Belize in 1948 and a garrison has been there continuously since this time.

Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 2004, 27Service personnel died in non-combat situations in Belize. It is not possible to provide information on deaths prior to 1984 as centrally held death records are known to be unreliable. A breakdown of these deaths by year is provided as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on identifying areas of support his Department can give to ensure the involvement of the Sea Cadet Association in celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. [210681]

holding answer 24 January 2005

The Royal Navy will be providing accommodation and transport around the Portsmouth area, and subsidised food for Sea Cadets participating in the Trafalgar 200 (T200) commemoration programme. Sea Cadets will be actively involved in all T200 events as a visible demonstration of the Past Glories—Future Horizons" theme. It is planned that over the three days the Fleet are in the Solent (the rehearsal day, the review day and the dispersal day) there will be 2,000 cadets on board ships in the Fleet Review, allowing them to experience the Review at first hand. Significant participation is also planned at both the Son et Lumiere and the International Drumhead Ceremony and for the International Festival of the Sea around five hundred cadets will be involved in a multitude of displays. Furthermore, it is planned that places for Sea Cadets will be made available at the St. Paul's Cathedral Service on 23 October and, on the same date, naval cadets will play a key part at the Celebrations in the Square" Grand Finale event in Trafalgar Square.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list countries which have sent military personnel to the United Kingdom for military training in each of the last three years; and how many personnel were sent in each case. [209919]

During the last three years more than 12,000 overseas military personnel, from 137 countries, have been trained at UK military establishments. A full breakdown of the numbers trained, by country, is in the following table.

Overseas military personnel trained in the UK

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to include existing casinos in the proposed pilots for large and small casinos. [211327]

Existing casinos will have the opportunity to bid for licences to become small or large casinos. If successful, they will be able to operate with all the new entitlements authorised by the new licence.

We wish to ensure that the existing industry is treated fairly, and remain willing to consider suggestions to that end.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the resources that have been allocated under each departmental heading and subheading in the 2004 departmental report following the spending review 2004 for each year to 2007–08. [203987]

holding answer 13 December 2004

The information is not yet available in the form that the hon. Member requests it. I have therefore set out in the table, the summary details of the Spending Review for the Department's sectors. The full information requested will be available in the Department's Annual Report which is expected to be published at the end of April.

DCMS Allocations from the 2004 Spending Review -- Resource (£000)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that residents of multiple dwelling units can access digital television prior to analogue switch-off; and if she will make a statement. [211736]